Japanese symbol for “gradient”
勾配
こうばい
Romaji: koubai
slope; incline; gradient; grade
In Japanese, gradient is 勾配, read こうばい (koubai).
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 slope; incline; gradient; grade; pitch
- n slope (of a linear function) (math)
- n gradient (vector calculus) (math, physics)
Written forms: 勾配、こう配. Readings: こうばい.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “gradient”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 傾斜度 | けいしゃど keishado | gradient |
| 暈し | ぼかし bokashi | blurring (e.g. of an image); blur; gradient |
| 階調 | かいちょう kaichou | gradation; gradient |
| 斜度 | しゃど shado | angle of slope; gradient; degree of inclination |
| グラディエント | グラディエント guradiento | gradient |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 勾玉 | まがたま magatama | magatama; comma-shaped bead from prehistoric Japan, usually made of jade |
| 勾留 | こうりゅう kouryuu | detention pending trial; confinement; custody |
| 勾引 | こういん kouin | arrest; custody; apprehending |
| 勾引し | かどわかし kadowakashi | kidnapper |
| 勾引状 | こういんじょう kouinjou | summons; warrant of arrest |
| 心配 | しんぱい shinpai | worry; concern; anxiety |
| 支配 | しはい shihai | rule; domination; control |
| 配置 | はいち haichi | arrangement (of resources); deployment; stationing |
See also: Chinese symbol for “gradient”.
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.