Japanese symbol for “grow”

出来る

できる

Romaji: dekiru

to be able to do; to be possible; to be permitted (to do)

In Japanese, grow is 出来る, read できる (dekiru).

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

v1, vi to be able to do; to be possible; to be permitted (to do)
v1, vi to be good at; to do well; to be proficient (in); to be capable
v1, vi to come into existence; to form; to appear; to come up (of a matter); to be born; to make (a friend)
v1, vi to be made; to be built; to be constructed; to be formed; to be established; to be set up
v1, vi to be finished; to be completed; to be done; to be ready
v1, vi to grow (of a crop); to be produced

Written forms: 出来る、出きる、出來る. Readings: できる.

Kanji and stroke order

出

exit, leave, go out

on: シュツ、スイ
kun: で.る、-で、だ.す、-だ.す

5 strokes · JLPT 4

来

come, due, next

on: ライ、タイ
kun: く.る、きた.る、きた.す、き.たす

7 strokes · JLPT 4

Other Japanese words for “grow”

Word	Reading	Meaning
伸びる	のびる nobiru	to stretch; to extend; to lengthen
育つ	そだつ sodatsu	to be raised (e.g. child); to be brought up; to grow (up)
作る	つくる tsukuru	to raise; to grow; to cultivate
生やす	はやす hayasu	to grow; to cultivate
生える	はえる haeru	to grow; to spring up; to sprout

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
出演	しゅつえん shutsuen	appearance (in a film, play, TV show, etc.); performance
出す	だす dasu	to take out; to get out
出る	でる deru	to leave; to exit; to go out
出身	しゅっしん shusshin	one's origin (e.g. city, country, parentage, school)
演出	えんしゅつ enshutsu	direction (of a play, film, etc.); production
未来	みらい mirai	(distant) future
以来	いらい irai	since; henceforth
将来	しょうらい shourai	future; (future) prospects

See also: Chinese symbol for “grow”.

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.