Japanese symbol for “breathtaking”
圧巻
あっかん
Romaji: akkan
highlight; best part
In Japanese, breathtaking is 圧巻, read あっかん (akkan).
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 highlight; best part
- adj-no stunning; incredible; spectacular; breathtaking
- vs, vt to stun; to amaze; to impress; to overwhelm (with emotion)
Written forms: 圧巻、圧観. Readings: あっかん.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “breathtaking”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 息を呑むほど | いきをのむほど ikionomuhodo | breathtaking |
| 息を呑むよう | いきをのむよう ikionomuyou | breathtaking; thrilling |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 圧力 | あつりょく atsuryoku | pressure |
| 気圧 | きあつ kiatsu | atmospheric pressure; air pressure |
| 圧縮 | あっしゅく asshuku | compression |
| 圧倒的 | あっとうてき attouteki | overwhelming |
| 血圧 | けつあつ ketsuatsu | blood pressure |
| 弾圧 | だんあつ dan'atsu | oppression; suppression; pressure |
| 巻き込む | まきこむ makikomu | to roll up; to enfold; to swallow up |
| 竜巻 | たつまき tatsumaki | tornado; whirlwind; waterspout |
See also: Chinese symbol for “breathtaking”.
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.