Japanese symbol for “efficacy”
効果
こうか
Romaji: kouka
effect; effectiveness; efficacy; result
In Japanese, efficacy is 効果, read こうか (kouka).
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
- adj-no, n effect; effectiveness; efficacy; result
- n effects (e.g. sound effects, visual effects, special effects)
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “efficacy”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 効 | こう kou | efficacy; benefit; efficiency |
| 効力 | こうりょく kouryoku | effect; efficacy; validity |
| 効き目 | ききめ kikime | effect; virtue; efficacy |
| 実効 | じっこう jikkou | practical effect; efficacy; efficiency |
| 効能 | こうのう kounou | effect; effectiveness; efficacy |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 有効 | ゆうこう yuukou | valid; effective |
| 効率 | こうりつ kouritsu | efficiency |
| 無効 | むこう mukou | invalid; void; ineffective |
| 効力 | こうりょく kouryoku | effect; efficacy; validity |
| 時効 | じこう jikou | prescription; statute of limitations; limitation period |
| 結果 | けっか kekka | result; consequence; outcome |
| 成果 | せいか seika | (good) result; outcome; fruits (of one's labors) |
| 果たして | はたして hatashite | as was expected; just as one thought; sure enough |
See also: Chinese symbol for “efficacy”.
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.