Japanese symbol for “flap”
羽ばたく
はばたく
Romaji: habataku
to flap (wings)
In Japanese, flap is 羽ばたく, read はばたく (habataku).
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
- v5k, vi to flap (wings)
- v5k, vi to spread one's wings; to go out into the world
Written forms: 羽ばたく、羽撃く、羽搏く、翔く. Readings: はばたく.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “flap”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 袖 | そで sode | flap (of a dust jacket) |
| フラップ | フラップ furappu | flap (of an aircraft wing) |
| 翻る | ひるがえる hirugaeru | to flutter (in the wind); to wave; to flap |
| 折り返し | おりかえし orikaeshi | lapel; cuff; turn-up |
| 煽る | あおる aoru | to flap (in the wind) |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 羽目 | はめ hame | panel; wainscoting; wainscotting |
| 羽織 | はおり haori | haori (Japanese formal coat) |
| 羽衣 | はごろも hagoromo | angel's raiment; robe of feathers |
| 羽毛 | うもう umou | feather; plume; plumage |
| 白羽 | しらは shiraha | white feather |
| 羽化 | うか uka | emergence (of insects); eclosion; growing wings |
See also: Chinese symbol for “flap”.
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.