Japanese symbol for “beneath”
以下
いか
Romaji: ika
not exceeding ...; not more than ...; ... and under; ... and below
In Japanese, beneath is 以下, read いか (ika).
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
- n-suf not exceeding ...; not more than ...; ... and under; ... and below; ... or fewer
- n-suf below (a standard, level, etc.); under; beneath; less than
- adj-no, n the following; the below-mentioned; the rest; followed by ...
- n-suf including ...; ... and other (employees, officials, etc.)
Written forms: 以下、已下. Readings: いか、いげ.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “beneath”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 下 | もと moto | under (a flag, the sun, etc.); beneath |
| 下 | した shita | beneath; underneath |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 以上 | いじょう ijou | not less than ...; ... and over; ... and above |
| 以前 | いぜん izen | before; prior to; ago |
| 以来 | いらい irai | since; henceforth |
| 以内 | いない inai | within; inside of; less than |
| 以降 | いこう ikou | on and after; from ... onward; since |
| 地下 | ちか chika | underground; below the ground |
| 低下 | ていか teika | fall; decline; lowering |
| 上下 | じょうげ jouge | top and bottom; high and low; above and below |
See also: Chinese symbol for “beneath”.
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.