Japanese symbol for “freedom”

自由

じゆう

Romaji: jiyuu

freedom; liberty

In Japanese, freedom is 自由, read じゆう (jiyuu).

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

adj-na, n freedom; liberty

Kanji and stroke order

自

oneself

on: ジ、シ
kun: みずか.ら、おの.ずから、おの.ずと

6 strokes · JLPT 3

由

wherefore, a reason

on: ユ、ユウ、ユイ
kun: よし、よ.る

5 strokes · JLPT 2

Other Japanese words for “freedom”

Word	Reading	Meaning
幅	はば haba	freedom (e.g. of thought); latitude
遊び	あそび asobi	flexibility (in a performance, art, etc.); freedom
独立	どくりつ dokuritsu	independence (e.g. of a nation); freedom
不羈	ふき fuki	freedom; liberty; independence
フリーダム	フリーダム furiidamu	freedom

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
自分	じぶん jibun	myself; yourself; oneself
自身	じしん jishin	(one's) self; oneself; yourself
自然	しぜん shizen	nature
自己	じこ jiko	self; oneself
自動	じどう jidou	automatic
理由	りゆう riyuu	reason; grounds; pretext
経由	けいゆ keiyu	going through; going via; going by way of
由来	ゆらい yurai	origin; source; history

See also: Chinese symbol for “freedom”.

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.