Japanese symbol for “decapitation”
首切り
くびきり
Romaji: kubikiri
decapitation; beheading
In Japanese, decapitation is 首切り, read くびきり (kubikiri).
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 decapitation; beheading
- n firings; dismissals; layoffs; downsizing
- n small samurai sword used for decapitation
Written forms: 首切り、首斬り. Readings: くびきり.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “decapitation”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 斬首 | ざんしゅ zanshu | decapitation |
| 斬 | ざん zan | beheading; decapitation |
| 斬罪 | ざんざい zanzai | (execution by) decapitation |
| 断頭 | だんとう dantou | beheading; decapitation |
| 断罪 | だんざい danzai | beheading; decapitation |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 首相 | しゅしょう shushou | prime minister; chancellor (Germany, Austria, etc.); premier |
| 首都 | しゅと shuto | (national) capital (city); metropolis |
| 首脳 | しゅのう shunou | head; leader; top |
| 手首 | てくび tekubi | wrist |
| 足首 | あしくび ashikubi | ankle |
| 乳首 | ちくび chikubi | nipple; teat |
| 大切 | たいせつ taisetsu | important; significant; serious |
| 一切 | いっさい issai | all; everything; entirety |
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.
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