Japanese symbol for “exist”
有る
ある
Romaji: aru
to be; to exist; to live
In Japanese, exist is 有る, read ある (aru).
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
- v5r-i, vi to be; to exist; to live
- v5r-i, vi to have
- v5r-i, vi to be located
- v5r-i, vi to be equipped with
- v5r-i, vi to happen; to come about
- aux-v, v5r-i to exist (in a completed state); to be (something unchanged in its current state)
Written forms: 有る、在る. Readings: ある.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “exist”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 生きる | いきる ikiru | to live; to exist |
| 居る | おる oru | to be (animate); to be; to exist |
| 居る | いる iru | to be (of animate objects); to exist |
| 宿る | やどる yadoru | to dwell (in); to exist (within); to form |
| 存する | そんする sonsuru | to exist; to remain; to live |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 有名 | ゆうめい yuumei | famous; well-known |
| 所有 | しょゆう shoyuu | possession; ownership |
| 有効 | ゆうこう yuukou | valid; effective |
| 有料 | ゆうりょう yuuryou | fee-charging; paid; not free |
| 有利 | ゆうり yuuri | advantageous; favourable; better |
See also: Chinese symbol for “exist”.
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.