Japanese symbol for “fingerprinting”

指紋押捺

しもんおうなつ

Romaji: shimon'ounatsu

fingerprinting

In Japanese, fingerprinting is 指紋押捺, read しもんおうなつ (shimon'ounatsu).

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 fingerprinting

Kanji and stroke order

指

finger, point to, indicate

on: シ
kun: ゆび、さ.す、-さ.し

9 strokes · JLPT 2

紋

family crest, figures

on: モン

10 strokes · JLPT 1

押

push, stop, check

on: オウ
kun: お.す、お.し-、お.っ-、お.さえる

8 strokes · JLPT 2

捺

press, print, affix a seal

on: ナツ、ダツ
kun: さ.す、お.す

11 strokes · JLPT 1

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
指定	してい shitei	designation; specification; assignment
指導	しどう shidou	guidance; leadership; instruction
指摘	してき shiteki	pointing out; identification
指示	しじ shiji	indication; denotation; designation
指揮	しき shiki	command; direction; supervision
指輪	ゆびわ yubiwa	(finger) ring
指紋	しもん shimon	fingerprint
紋章	もんしょう monshou	crest; coat of arms
押す	おす osu	to push; to thrust; to shove
押捺	おうなつ ounatsu	stamping; impressing; affixing a seal

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.