King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Japanese symbol for “exposition”

Romaji: setsumei
explanation; exposition; description; account

In Japanese, exposition is , read (setsumei).

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

  1. n, vs, vt explanation; exposition; description; account; caption; legend

Kanji and stroke order

opinion, theory, explanation
on: セツ、ゼイ
kun: と.く
14 strokes · JLPT 3
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

Other Japanese words for “exposition”

WordReadingMeaning
かいせつ kaisetsuexplanation; commentary; exposition
はく hakuexposition; fair; exhibition
こうしゃく koushakuexplanation (of a text, phrase, etc.); lecture; exposition
エキスポ ekisupoexpo; exposition
はくらんかい hakurankaiexhibition; exposition; expo

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

WordReadingMeaning
しょうせつ shousetsunovel; story; (work of) fiction
かいせつ kaisetsuexplanation; commentary; exposition
でんせつ densetsulegend; folklore; tradition
せっとく settokupersuasion
えんぜつ enzetsuspeech; address
あした ashitatomorrow
あきらか akirakaclear; obvious; evident
ふめい fumeiunclear; obscure; indistinct

See also: Chinese symbol for “exposition”.

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.