Japanese symbol for “confidant”
懐刀
ふところがたな
Romaji: futokorogatana
dagger; stiletto
In Japanese, confidant is 懐刀, read ふところがたな (futokorogatana).
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 dagger; stiletto
- n confidant; right-hand man
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “confidant”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 相談相手 | そうだんあいて soudan'aite | adviser; someone to consult with; someone to turn to about one's concerns |
| 腹心の友 | ふくしんのとも fukushinnotomo | close friend; trusted friend; confidant |
| 親近者 | しんきんしゃ shinkinsha | close associate; intimate friend; confidant |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 懐かしい | なつかしい natsukashii | dear (old); fondly remembered; beloved |
| 懐疑 | かいぎ kaigi | doubt; skepticism; scepticism |
| 懐柔 | かいじゅう kaijuu | winning over; placation; gentle persuasion |
| 懐かしむ | なつかしむ natsukashimu | to yearn (for); to miss; to feel nostalgic (for) |
| 懐古 | かいこ kaiko | reminiscence; nostalgia; thinking fondly of the past |
| 述懐 | じゅっかい jukkai | speaking about (one's thoughts, memories, etc.); relating (one's feelings, reminiscences, etc.); recollection |
| 刀剣 | とうけん touken | sword; dagger; knife |
| 太刀 | たち tachi | long sword (as opposed to the shorter katana) |
See also: Chinese symbol for “confidant”.
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.