Japanese symbol for “function”
機能
きのう
Romaji: kinou
function; facility; faculty; feature
In Japanese, function is 機能, read きのう (kinou).
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, vi, vs function; facility; faculty; feature
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “function”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 役 | やく yaku | role; assignment; responsibility |
| 任務 | にんむ ninmu | duty; function; office |
| 作用 | さよう sayou | action; operation; process |
| 能 | のう nou | talent; gift; function |
| 行事 | ぎょうじ gyouji | event; function |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 機関 | きかん kikan | engine |
| 機会 | きかい kikai | chance; opportunity; occasion |
| 機械 | きかい kikai | machine; mechanism |
| 危機 | きき kiki | crisis; critical situation; emergency |
| 機構 | きこう kikou | mechanism; machinery |
| 可能 | かのう kanou | possible; potential; practicable |
| 能力 | のうりょく nouryoku | ability; faculty |
| 芸能 | げいのう geinou | public entertainment; performing arts |
See also: Chinese symbol for “function”.
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.