Japanese symbol for “bolster”
枕
まくら
Romaji: makura
pillow; bolster
In Japanese, bolster is 枕, read まくら (makura).
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, n-suf pillow; bolster
- n, n-suf introduction (e.g. to a rakugo story); lead-in
Kanji and stroke order
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 枕詞 | まくらことば makurakotoba | pillow word; decorative word used prefixally in classical Japanese literature |
| 枕元 | まくらもと makuramoto | bedside; near one's pillow |
| 枕草子 | まくらのそうし makuranosoushi | The Pillow Book (Heian-period collection of writings by Sei Shōnagon) |
| 膝枕 | ひざまくら hizamakura | laying one's head in someone's lap; using someone's lap for a pillow |
| 枕木 | まくらぎ makuragi | (railway) sleeper; (railroad) tie; crosstie |
| 夢枕 | ゆめまくら yumemakura | at the bedside where one dreams |
See also: Chinese symbol for “bolster”.
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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