Japanese symbol for “christianity”

切支丹

キリシタン

Romaji: kirishitan

Christianity (in feudal Japan); Christian

In Japanese, christianity is 切支丹, read キリシタン (kirishitan).

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 Christianity (in feudal Japan); Christian

Written forms: 切支丹、吉利支丹、切死丹、鬼理死丹. Readings: キリシタン.

Kanji and stroke order

切

cut, cutoff, be sharp

on: セツ、サイ
kun: き.る、-き.る、き.り、-き.り

4 strokes · JLPT 3

支

branch, support, sustain

on: シ
kun: ささ.える、つか.える、か.う

4 strokes · JLPT 2

丹

rust-colored, red, red lead

on: タン
kun: に

4 strokes · JLPT 1

Other Japanese words for “christianity”

Word	Reading	Meaning
耶蘇教	やそきょう yasokyou	Christianity
聖教	せいきょう seikyou	Christianity
キリスト教	キリストきょう kirisutokyou	Christianity
基教	ききょう kikyou	Christianity
伴天連宗	バテレンしゅう baterenshuu	Christianity

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
大切	たいせつ taisetsu	important; significant; serious
一切	いっさい issai	all; everything; entirety
適切	てきせつ tekisetsu	appropriate; suitable; fitting
切り	きり kiri	end; finish; place to stop
切る	きる kiru	to cut; to cut through; to perform (surgery)
親切	しんせつ shinsetsu	kind; gentle; considerate
支払い	しはらい shiharai	payment
支援	しえん shien	support; backing; aid
丹精	たんせい tansei	working earnestly; sincerity; diligence

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.