Japanese symbol for “disobeying”

背戻

はいれい

Romaji: hairei

disobeying; infringing; running counter to

In Japanese, disobeying is 背戻, read はいれい (hairei).

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, vi, vs disobeying; infringing; running counter to

Written forms: 背戻、悖戻. Readings: はいれい.

Kanji and stroke order

背

stature, height, back

on: ハイ
kun: せ、せい、そむ.く、そむ.ける

9 strokes · JLPT 2

戻

re-, return, revert

on: レイ
kun: もど.す、もど.る

7 strokes · JLPT 2

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
背景	はいけい haikei	background; scenery; backdrop
背中	せなか senaka	back (of the body)
背後	はいご haigo	back; rear
背骨	せぼね sebone	spine; backbone; spinal column
背広	せびろ sebiro	business suit
背負う	せおう seou	to carry on one's back
戻す	もどす modosu	to put back; to return; to give back
戻し	もどし modoshi	returning; giving back

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.