Japanese symbol for “groundwork”
下地
したじ
Romaji: shitaji
groundwork; foundation
In Japanese, groundwork is 下地, read したじ (shitaji).
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 groundwork; foundation
- n inclination; aptitude; elementary knowledge (of); grounding (in)
- n undercoat; first coat
- n soy sauce
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “groundwork”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 足固め | あしがため ashigatame | groundwork; preparation |
| レール | レール reeru | groundwork; spadework; preparations |
| 布石 | ふせき fuseki | preparations; preparatory steps; arrangements |
| 地固め | じがため jigatame | ground leveling; ground levelling; groundwork |
| 土台作り | どだいづくり dodaizukuri | groundwork; laying the foundation |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 以下 | いか ika | not exceeding ...; not more than ...; ... and under |
| 地下 | ちか chika | underground; below the ground |
| 低下 | ていか teika | fall; decline; lowering |
| 上下 | じょうげ jouge | top and bottom; high and low; above and below |
| 地下鉄 | ちかてつ chikatetsu | subway; metro; underground (railway) |
| 部下 | ぶか buka | subordinate person |
| 地域 | ちいき chiiki | area; region; district |
| 地球 | ちきゅう chikyuu | Earth; the globe |
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.