Japanese symbol for “explanatory”

説明的

せつめいてき

Romaji: setsumeiteki

explanatory; expository; elucidatory

In Japanese, explanatory is 説明的, read せつめいてき (setsumeiteki).

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-na explanatory; expository; elucidatory

Kanji and stroke order

説

opinion, theory, explanation

on: セツ、ゼイ
kun: と.く

14 strokes · JLPT 3

明

bright, light

on: メイ、ミョウ、ミン
kun: あ.かり、あか.るい、あか.るむ、あか.らむ

8 strokes · JLPT 3

的

bull's eye, mark, target

on: テキ
kun: まと

8 strokes · JLPT 2

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
説明	せつめい setsumei	explanation; exposition; description
小説	しょうせつ shousetsu	novel; story; (work of) fiction
解説	かいせつ kaisetsu	explanation; commentary; exposition
伝説	でんせつ densetsu	legend; folklore; tradition
説得	せっとく settoku	persuasion
演説	えんぜつ enzetsu	speech; address
明日	あした ashita	tomorrow
明らか	あきらか akiraka	clear; obvious; evident
目的	もくてき mokuteki	purpose; goal; aim

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.