Japanese symbol for “downplay”
控えめに言う
ひかえめにいう
Romaji: hikaemeniiu
to speak with restraint; to understate; to downplay; to put it mildly
In Japanese, downplay is 控えめに言う, read ひかえめにいう (hikaemeniiu).
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
- exp, v5u to speak with restraint; to understate; to downplay; to put it mildly; to say the least
Written forms: 控えめに言う、控え目に言う、控えめにいう、ひかえ目に言う. Readings: ひかえめにいう.
Kanji and stroke order
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 控える | ひかえる hikaeru | to be temperate in; to refrain; to abstain |
| 控訴 | こうそ kouso | appeal to a higher court; intermediate appeal |
| 控え | ひかえ hikae | reserve; spare; backup |
| 控除 | こうじょ koujo | subtraction; deduction (e.g. of tax) |
| 控え室 | ひかえしつ hikaeshitsu | waiting room; anteroom; antechamber |
| 控えめ | ひかえめ hikaeme | moderate; reserved; modest |
| 言う | いう iu | to say; to utter; to declare |
| 言葉 | ことば kotoba | language; dialect |
See also: Chinese symbol for “downplay”.
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.