Japanese symbol for “demolishing”

取り払い

とりはらい

Romaji: toriharai

removing; clearing (away); demolishing

In Japanese, demolishing is 取り払い, read とりはらい (toriharai).

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 removing; clearing (away); demolishing

Written forms: 取り払い、取払い. Readings: とりはらい.

Kanji and stroke order

取

take, fetch, take up

on: シュ
kun: と.る、と.り、と.り-、とり

8 strokes · JLPT 2

払

pay, clear out, prune

on: フツ、ヒツ、ホツ
kun: はら.う、-はら.い、-ばら.い

5 strokes · JLPT 2

Other Japanese words for “demolishing”

Word	Reading	Meaning
粉砕	ふんさい funsai	reducing to pieces; crushing; smashing
毀壊	きかい kikai	breaking; demolishing; smashing

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
取引	とりひき torihiki	transactions; dealings; business
買取	かいとり kaitori	purchase; buying; buying out
取得	しゅとく shutoku	obtaining (a qualification, right, object, etc.); acquisition (of land, property, etc.); gaining possession (of)
取る	とる toru	to take; to pick up; to grab
取材	しゅざい shuzai	gathering material (for an article, novel, etc.); collecting information; covering (an event, incident, etc.)
取締役	とりしまりやく torishimariyaku	company director; board member
支払い	しはらい shiharai	payment
支払う	しはらう shiharau	to pay

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.