Japanese symbol for “ebb”

減退

げんたい

Romaji: gentai

decline; ebb; failure; decay

In Japanese, ebb is 減退, read げんたい (gentai).

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 decline; ebb; failure; decay; decrease; loss

Kanji and stroke order

減

dwindle, decrease, reduce

on: ゲン
kun: へ.る、へ.らす

12 strokes · JLPT 2

退

retreat, withdraw, retire

on: タイ
kun: しりぞ.く、しりぞ.ける、ひ.く、の.く

9 strokes · JLPT 2

Other Japanese words for “ebb”

Word	Reading	Meaning
引く	ひく hiku	to recede; to ebb; to fade
干潮	かんちょう kanchou	low tide; low water; ebb
下り坂	くだりざか kudarizaka	decline; waning; ebb
衰微	すいび suibi	decline; decay; ebb
傾く	かたむく katamuku	to decline; to wane; to ebb

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
減少	げんしょう genshou	decrease; reduction; decline
削減	さくげん sakugen	cut; reduction; curtailment
加減	かげん kagen	degree; extent; amount
減速	げんそく gensoku	deceleration
減る	へる heru	to decrease (in size or number); to diminish; to abate
減らす	へらす herasu	to abate; to decrease; to diminish
引退	いんたい intai	retirement
退職	たいしょく taishoku	retirement; resignation