Japanese symbol for “flinch”
漂う
ただよう
Romaji: tadayou
to drift; to float
In Japanese, flinch is 漂う, read ただよう (tadayou).
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
- v5u, vi to drift; to float
- v5u, vi to waft (e.g. a scent); to hang in the air
- v5u, vi to be in the air (e.g. a feeling or mood)
- v5u, vi to wander; to walk around aimlessly
- v5u, vi to be unsteady; to be unstable
- v5u, vi to falter; to flinch; to wince
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “flinch”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 怯む | ひるむ hirumu | to falter; to flinch (from); to recoil (from) |
| たじろぐ | たじろぐ tajirogu | to shrink back; to wince; to flinch |
| 縮み上がる | ちぢみあがる chijimiagaru | to freeze (in fear, surprise, etc.); to cower; to flinch |
| 二の足を踏む | にのあしをふむ ninoashiofumu | to hesitate; to think twice; to flinch |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 漂流 | ひょうりゅう hyouryuu | drifting; drift; being adrift |
| 漂白 | ひょうはく hyouhaku | blanching; bleaching |
| 漂着 | ひょうちゃく hyouchaku | drifting ashore |
| 漂泊 | ひょうはく hyouhaku | roaming; drifting about; wandering |
| 漂白剤 | ひょうはくざい hyouhakuzai | bleaching agent; bleach |
See also: Chinese symbol for “flinch”.
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.
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