King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Japanese symbol for “bracket”

Romaji: waku
frame; framework

In Japanese, bracket is , read (waku).

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, n-suf frame; framework
  2. n, n-suf border; box
  3. n, n-suf limit; restriction; quota
  4. n, n-suf category; bracket; class
  5. n, n-suf time slot (in a broadcasting schedule)
  6. n, n-suf stream; livestream; live stream; live (online) broadcast

Written forms: . Readings: .

Kanji and stroke order

frame, framework, spindle

kun: わく
8 strokes · JLPT 1

Other Japanese words for “bracket”

WordReadingMeaning
ブラケット burakettobracket
そう souclass; stratum; bracket
うでぎ udegicrossarm; bracket; blade
ひじき hijikiancon; bracket; corbel piece

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

WordReadingMeaning
わくぐみ wakugumiframe (physical structure); framework
わくがい wakugai(beyond the) limits; scope; boundary
べつわく betsuwakuadditional; extraordinary; outside the norms
おおわく oowakugeneral framework; broad outline; rough idea
わくない wakunaiwithin the limits (framework, boundaries, price, etc.)
くろわく kurowakublack borders; mourning borders (e.g. on an obituary)

See also: Chinese symbol for “bracket”.

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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