Japanese symbol for “bribe”
賄賂
わいろ
Romaji: wairo
bribe; sweetener; douceur
In Japanese, bribe is 賄賂, read わいろ (wairo).
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 bribe; sweetener; douceur
Written forms: 賄賂. Readings: わいろ、ワイロ.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “bribe”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 裏金 | うらがね uragane | bribe |
| 袖の下 | そでのした sodenoshita | bribe; money under the table |
| 賂 | まいない mainai | bribe |
| 貨賂 | かろ karo | bribe |
| 音物 | いんもつ inmotsu | present (to build up a "friendship" with someone); bribe |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 賄う | まかなう makanau | to supply (goods, money, etc.); to cover (costs); to pay |
| 収賄 | しゅうわい shuuwai | accepting a bribe |
| 贈収賄 | ぞうしゅうわい zoushuuwai | bribery; corruption |
| 贈賄 | ぞうわい zouwai | giving a bribe; bribery |
| 賄い | まかない makanai | boarding (someone); catering; providing meals |
| 貨賂 | かろ karo | bribe |
| 賄賂罪 | わいろざい wairozai | (crime of) bribery |
See also: Chinese symbol for “bribe”.
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.