Japanese symbol for “book”
書籍
しょせき
Romaji: shoseki
book; publication
In Japanese, book is 書籍, read しょせき (shoseki).
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 book; publication
Written forms: 書籍. Readings: しょせき、しょじゃく.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “book”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 本 | ほん hon | book; volume; script |
| 書物 | しょもつ shomotsu | book; volume |
| 著書 | ちょしょ chosho | (written) work; book; writings |
| 冊子 | さっし sasshi | book; booklet; story book |
| 著作 | ちょさく chosaku | writing (a book); book; (literary) work |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 文書 | ぶんしょ bunsho | document; writing; letter |
| 書類 | しょるい shorui | document; papers |
| 図書館 | としょかん toshokan | library |
| 書店 | しょてん shoten | bookshop; bookstore |
| 教科書 | きょうかしょ kyoukasho | textbook; coursebook; schoolbook |
| 国籍 | こくせき kokuseki | nationality; citizenship |
| 在籍 | ざいせき zaiseki | being enrolled (at a school); being registered; being a member (of a team, organization, etc.) |
| 戸籍 | こせき koseki | family register |
See also: Chinese symbol for “book”.
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.