Japanese symbol for “creep”
這う
はう
Romaji: hau
to crawl; to creep; to go on all fours
In Japanese, creep is 這う, read はう (hau).
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
- v5u, vi to crawl; to creep; to go on all fours
- v5u, vi to slither; to wriggle
- v5u, vi to trail (of vines, flowers, etc.); to spread; to creep
Written forms: 這う、匍う、延う. Readings: はう.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “creep”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| クリープ | クリープ kuriipu | creep (gradual deformation of a solid under stress) |
| 這いずる | はいずる haizuru | to creep; to crawl |
| はって行く | はっていく hatteiku | to creep; to crawl |
| クリープ現象 | クリープげんしょう kuriipugenshou | creep (of an automatic-transmission vehicle); idle creep |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 夜這い | よばい yobai | creeping at night into a woman's bedroom; stealing into a girl's bedroom at night to make love; sneaking visit |
| 這いずる | はいずる haizuru | to creep; to crawl |
| 這い出す | はいだす haidasu | to crawl out; to creep out |
| 這松 | はいまつ haimatsu | Japanese stone pine (Pinus pumila); Siberian dwarf pine; creeping pine |
| 這い這い | はいはい haihai | crawling (of a baby) |
See also: Chinese symbol for “creep”.
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.