Japanese symbol for “circulate”
伝わる
つたわる
Romaji: tsutawaru
to spread (of a rumour, news, etc.); to travel; to circulate; to go around
In Japanese, circulate is 伝わる, read つたわる (tsutawaru).
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
- v5r, vi to spread (of a rumour, news, etc.); to travel; to circulate; to go around; to be passed around; to become known
- v5r, vi to be handed down (from generation to generation); to be passed down
- v5r, vi to be introduced (to a country, region, etc.); to be brought; to come
- v5r, vi to be conveyed (of a feeling, impression, etc.); to be felt; to come across
- v5r, vi to travel (of sound, electricity, etc.); to propagate; to be conducted; to be transmitted
- v5r, vi to go along; to move along
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “circulate”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 流す | ながす nagasu | to circulate (a rumour, information, etc.); to spread; to distribute |
| 通う | かよう kayou | to circulate (e.g. blood, electricity); to be communicated (e.g. thought) |
| 回す | まわす mawasu | to pass around; to send around; to hand around |
| 巡る | めぐる meguru | to come around (of a season, anniversary, turn, etc.); to return; to repeat |
| 飛ばす | とばす tobasu | to spread (e.g. a rumour); to circulate; to send out (a message) |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 伝統 | でんとう dentou | tradition; convention |
| 宣伝 | せんでん senden | publicity; advertisement; advertising |
| 伝説 | でんせつ densetsu | legend; folklore; tradition |
| 手伝い | てつだい tetsudai | helper; assistant |
| 遺伝 | いでん iden | heredity; (genetic) inheritance |
| 遺伝子 | いでんし idenshi | gene |
See also: Chinese symbol for “circulate”.
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.