King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Japanese symbol for “backward”

Romaji: mikaihatsu
undeveloped (countries); backward; unentered

In Japanese, backward is , read (mikaihatsu).

Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.

Meanings

  1. n undeveloped (countries); backward; unentered

Kanji and stroke order

un-, not yet, hitherto
on: ミ、ビ
kun: いま.だ、ま.だ、ひつじ
5 strokes · JLPT 2
open, unfold, unseal
on: カイ
kun: ひら.く、ひら.き、-びら.き、ひら.ける
12 strokes · JLPT 3
departure, discharge, publish
on: ハツ、ホツ
kun: た.つ、あば.く、おこ.る、つか.わす
9 strokes · JLPT 3

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

WordReadingMeaning
みらい mirai(distant) future
みすい misuifailed attempt (at a crime, suicide, etc.)
みてい miteinot yet fixed; undecided; pending
みせいねん miseinenminority (i.e. being under age); minor; underage person
みち michinot yet known; unknown; strange
みまん mimanless than; under; below
かいさい kaisaiholding (a conference, exhibition, etc.); opening; hosting (e.g. the Olympics)
こうかい koukaiopening to the public; making available to the public; exhibiting
はつばい hatsubaisale; offering for sale; putting on sale

See also: Chinese symbol for “backward”.

Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.

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