Japanese symbol for “executioner”
刑吏
けいり
Romaji: keiri
executioner
In Japanese, executioner is 刑吏, read けいり (keiri).
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 executioner
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “executioner”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 死刑執行人 | しけいしっこうにん shikeishikkounin | executioner |
| 首切り役人 | くびきりやくにん kubikiriyakunin | executioner; headsman |
| 御様御用 | おためしごよう otameshigoyou | sword tester (Edo period); executioner |
| 断罪者 | だんざいしゃ danzaisha | condemner; punisher; executioner |
| エクスキューショナー | エクスキューショナー ekusukyuushonaa | executioner |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 刑事 | けいじ keiji | (police) detective |
| 死刑 | しけい shikei | death penalty; capital punishment |
| 刑務所 | けいむしょ keimusho | prison; jail; gaol |
| 処刑 | しょけい shokei | execution |
| 刑法 | けいほう keihou | criminal law; penal code |
| 実刑 | じっけい jikkei | prison sentence (without a stay of execution) |
| 官吏 | かんり kanri | government official; public servant; civil servant |
| 公吏 | こうり kouri | local government official |
See also: Chinese symbol for “executioner”.
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.