Japanese symbol for “cytoplasm”

細胞質

さいぼうしつ

Romaji: saiboushitsu

cytoplasm

In Japanese, cytoplasm is 細胞質, read さいぼうしつ (saiboushitsu).

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 cytoplasm

Kanji and stroke order

細

dainty, get thin, taper

on: サイ
kun: ほそ.い、ほそ.る、こま.か、こま.かい

11 strokes · JLPT 2

胞

placenta, sac, sheath

on: ホウ

9 strokes · JLPT 1

質

substance, quality, matter

on: シツ、シチ、チ
kun: たち、ただ.す、もと、わりふ

15 strokes · JLPT 3

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
詳細	しょうさい shousai	details; particulars; specifics
細胞	さいぼう saibou	cell
細かい	こまかい komakai	small
細菌	さいきん saikin	bacterium; bacteria; germ
細い	ほそい hosoi	thin; slender; fine
繊細	せんさい sensai	dainty; delicate (e.g. fingers); fine
同胞	どうほう douhou	brethren; brothers; fellow countrymen
胞子	ほうし houshi	spore
質問	しつもん shitsumon	question; inquiry; enquiry

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.