Japanese symbol for “brothers”
同胞
どうほう
Romaji: douhou
brethren; brothers; fellow countrymen; fellowman
In Japanese, brothers is 同胞, read どうほう (douhou).
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 brethren; brothers; fellow countrymen; fellowman; compatriot
Written forms: 同胞. Readings: どうほう、どうぼう、はらから.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “brothers”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 兄弟 | けいてい keitei | older and younger brothers; brothers |
| ブラザーズ | ブラザーズ burazaazu | brothers (usu. in company, etc. names) |
| 伯叔 | はくしゅく hakushuku | brothers; one's father's brothers |
| 男兄弟 | おとこきょうだい otokokyoudai | brothers; male siblings |
| 昆弟 | こんてい kontei | brothers |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 同様 | どうよう douyou | same; similar; (just) like |
| 同士 | どうし doushi | fellow; mutual; companion |
| 共同 | きょうどう kyoudou | cooperation; collaboration; association |
| 同じ | おなじ onaji | same; identical; equal |
| 同時 | どうじ douji | same time |
| 同意 | どうい doui | agreement; consent; approval |
| 細胞 | さいぼう saibou | cell |
| 胞子 | ほうし houshi | spore |
See also: Chinese symbol for “brothers”.
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.