Japanese symbol for “exploration”
探検
たんけん
Romaji: tanken
exploration; expedition
In Japanese, exploration is 探検, read たんけん (tanken).
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, vs, vt exploration; expedition
Written forms: 探検、探険. Readings: たんけん.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “exploration”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 探索 | たんさく tansaku | search; lookup; hunt |
| 詮索 | せんさく sensaku | inquiry into; enquiry into; prying (into) |
| 踏査 | とうさ tousa | survey; exploration; field investigation |
| 診査 | しんさ shinsa | diagnostic examination; exploration |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 探す | さがす sagasu | to search for; to look for; to hunt for |
| 探索 | たんさく tansaku | search; lookup; hunt |
| 探偵 | たんてい tantei | detective; investigator; sleuth |
| 探知 | たんち tanchi | detection |
| 探査 | たんさ tansa | probe; inquiry; enquiry |
| 検査 | けんさ kensa | inspection (e.g. customs, factory); examination; test |
| 検討 | けんとう kentou | consideration; examination; investigation |
| 検証 | けんしょう kenshou | verification; confirmation; substantiation |
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.