Japanese symbol for “commencing”

着手

ちゃくしゅ

Romaji: chakushu

starting work (on); setting to work (on); setting about (doing); beginning

In Japanese, commencing is 着手, read ちゃくしゅ (chakushu).

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, vi, vs starting work (on); setting to work (on); setting about (doing); beginning; commencing; embarking on
n, vi, vs commencing (a crime) (law)
n, vi, vs playing (a move) (go, shogi)

Written forms: 着手、著手. Readings: ちゃくしゅ.

Kanji and stroke order

着

don, arrive, wear

on: チャク、ジャク
kun: き.る、き.せる、つ.く、つ.ける

12 strokes · JLPT 3

手

hand

on: シュ、ズ
kun: て、て-、-て、た-

4 strokes · JLPT 4

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
到着	とうちゃく touchaku	arrival
水着	みずぎ mizugi	bathing suit; swimsuit; swimmers
下着	したぎ shitagi	underwear; undergarment; underclothes
定着	ていちゃく teichaku	sticking (in one place, position, etc.); settling; fixing
着る	きる kiru	to wear (from the shoulders down); to put on
着陸	ちゃくりく chakuriku	landing; alighting; touch down
相手	あいて aite	companion; partner; company
選手	せんしゅ senshu	player (of a sport); athlete; team member

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.