Japanese symbol for “building”
建物
たてもの
Romaji: tatemono
building
In Japanese, building is 建物, read たてもの (tatemono).
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 building
Written forms: 建物、建もの、建て物、建てもの. Readings: たてもの.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “building”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 作り | つくり tsukuri | making; producing; manufacturing |
| 建造 | けんぞう kenzou | building; construction |
| 構築 | こうちく kouchiku | construction; building; putting up |
| 家屋 | かおく kaoku | house; building |
| 建立 | こんりゅう konryuu | (act of) building (temple, monument, etc.); erection |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 建設 | けんせつ kensetsu | construction; establishment |
| 建築 | けんちく kenchiku | construction; architecture (of buildings) |
| 再建 | さいけん saiken | rebuilding; reconstruction; rehabilitation |
| 建前 | たてまえ tatemae | face; official stance; public position or attitude (as opposed to private thoughts) |
| 建つ | たつ tatsu | to be erected; to be built |
| 動物 | どうぶつ doubutsu | animal |
| 人物 | じんぶつ jinbutsu | person; character; figure |
| 物語 | ものがたり monogatari | story; tale; narrative |
See also: Chinese symbol for “building”.
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.