Japanese symbol for “criticize”
責める
せめる
Romaji: semeru
to condemn; to blame; to criticize; to criticise
In Japanese, criticize is 責める, read せめる (semeru).
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
- v1, vt to condemn; to blame; to criticize; to criticise; to reproach; to accuse
- v1, vt to urge; to press; to pester
- v1, vt to torture; to torment; to persecute
- v1, vt to break in (a horse)
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “criticize”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 咎める | とがめる togameru | to blame; to reproach; to censure |
| 叩く | たたく tataku | to attack; to bash; to criticize |
| 難ずる | なんずる nanzuru | to criticize; to point out faults; to speak ill of |
| 難じる | なんじる nanjiru | to criticize; to point out faults; to speak ill of |
| 謗る | そしる soshiru | to slander; to libel; to criticize |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 責任 | せきにん sekinin | duty; responsibility (incl. supervision of staff) |
| 責め | せめ seme | responsibility; liability; blame |
| 責務 | せきむ sekimu | duty; obligation |
| 免責 | めんせき menseki | exemption from responsibility |
| 自責 | じせき jiseki | self-condemnation; self-reproach; self-accusation |
See also: Chinese symbol for “criticize”.
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.