Japanese symbol for “cultivate”
作る
つくる
Romaji: tsukuru
to make; to produce; to manufacture; to build
In Japanese, cultivate is 作る, read つくる (tsukuru).
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
- v5r, vt to make; to produce; to manufacture; to build; to construct
- v5r, vt to prepare (food); to brew (alcohol)
- v5r, vt to raise; to grow; to cultivate; to train
- v5r, vt to till
- v5r, vt to draw up (a document); to make out; to prepare; to write
- v5r, vt to create (an artistic work, etc.); to compose
Written forms: 作る、造る、創る. Readings: つくる.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “cultivate”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 培う | つちかう tsuchikau | to cultivate; to foster |
| 耕す | たがやす tagayasu | to till; to plow; to plough |
| 生やす | はやす hayasu | to grow; to cultivate |
| 養う | やしなう yashinau | to cultivate (a habit, a quality, etc.); to develop; to build up |
| 修める | おさめる osameru | to study; to complete (a course); to cultivate |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 作品 | さくひん sakuhin | work (e.g. book, film, painting, composition); piece; production |
| 作業 | さぎょう sagyou | work; operation; task |
| 制作 | せいさく seisaku | work (film, book) |
| 作戦 | さくせん sakusen | tactics; strategy |
| 操作 | そうさ sousa | operation; management; handling |
See also: Chinese symbol for “cultivate”.
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.