Japanese symbol for “eta”

穢多

えた

Romaji: eta

eta; group comprising the lowest rank of Japan's Edo-period caste system and whose work usually involved handling human bodies or animal carcasses

In Japanese, eta is 穢多, read えた (eta).

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 eta; group comprising the lowest rank of Japan's Edo-period caste system and whose work usually involved handling human bodies or animal carcasses

Kanji and stroke order

穢

dirty

on: アイ、エ、ワイ
kun: けが.す、けが.れ、けが.れる

18 strokes

多

many, frequent, much

on: タ
kun: おお.い、まさ.に、まさ.る

6 strokes · JLPT 4

Other Japanese words for “eta”

Word	Reading	Meaning
Η	イータ iita	eta
ＥＴＡ	イー・ティー・エー ii・tii・ee	ETA; estimated time of arrival
長吏	ちょうり chouri	eta (Edo period)
ＥＴＡ	エタ eta	ETA (Basque separatist group); Euskadi Ta Askatasuna
到着予定時刻	とうちゃくよていじこく touchakuyoteijikoku	estimated time of arrival; ETA

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
穢土	えど edo	this impure world (as opposed to the pure land)
汚穢	おわい owai	night soil
厭離穢土	えんりえど enriedo	abhorrence of (living in) this impure world
汚穢屋	おわいや owaiya	person who gathers night soil
雑穢	ぞうえ zoue	various impurities (illness, menstruation, death, etc.)
多数	たすう tasuu	large number (of); many
多分	たぶん tabun	probably; likely; perhaps
多様	たよう tayou	diverse; various