Japanese symbol for “gap”
間
あいだ
Romaji: aida
space (between); gap; interval; distance
In Japanese, gap is 間, read あいだ (aida).
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 space (between); gap; interval; distance; stretch
- adv, n period of time (during, while); duration; interval
- n between (two parties or things)
- n among (a group)
- n relations (between); relationship
- n midpoint; average; halfway; middle ground
Written forms: 間. Readings: あいだ、あわい.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “gap”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 格差 | かくさ kakusa | qualitative difference; disparity; gap |
| 隙 | すき suki | gap; opening; room |
| 隙間 | すきま sukima | gap; opening; aperture |
| 欠陥 | けっかん kekkan | defect; fault; flaw |
| 空き | あき aki | space; room; gap |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 時間 | じかん jikan | time |
| 人間 | にんげん ningen | human being; human; person |
| 期間 | きかん kikan | period; term; interval |
| 年間 | ねんかん nenkan | (period of) a year |
| 仲間 | なかま nakama | companion; fellow; friend |
| 間違い | まちがい machigai | mistake; error; blunder |
See also: Chinese symbol for “gap”.
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.