Japanese symbol for “cosmetics”
化粧
けしょう
Romaji: keshou
make-up; makeup; cosmetics
In Japanese, cosmetics is 化粧, read けしょう (keshou).
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 make-up; makeup; cosmetics
- n, vi, vs decoration; dressing; veneer
Written forms: 化粧、仮粧. Readings: けしょう、けわい、けそう.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “cosmetics”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 顔 | かお kao | makeup; cosmetics |
| 美容 | びよう biyou | beautification; beauty treatment; beauty culture |
| コスメ | コスメ kosume | cosmetics |
| 化粧品 | けしょうひん keshouhin | cosmetics; beauty products; toiletries |
| 脂粉 | しふん shifun | rouge and powder; cosmetics |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 文化 | ぶんか bunka | culture; civilization; civilisation |
| 変化 | へんか henka | change; variation; alteration |
| 強化 | きょうか kyouka | strengthening; intensifying; reinforcement |
| 悪化 | あっか akka | deterioration; getting worse; worsening |
| 化学 | かがく kagaku | chemistry |
| 厚化粧 | あつげしょう atsugeshou | thick makeup; heavy makeup |
| 化粧直し | けしょうなおし keshounaoshi | adjusting one's makeup |
| 薄化粧 | うすげしょう usugeshou | light makeup |
See also: Chinese symbol for “cosmetics”.
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.