Japanese symbol for “gymnast”

体操選手

たいそうせんしゅ

Romaji: taisousenshu

gymnast

In Japanese, gymnast is 体操選手, read たいそうせんしゅ (taisousenshu).

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 gymnast

Kanji and stroke order

体

body, substance, object

on: タイ、テイ
kun: からだ、かたち

7 strokes · JLPT 3

操

maneuver, manipulate, operate

on: ソウ、サン
kun: みさお、あやつ.る

16 strokes · JLPT 2

選

elect, select, choose

on: セン
kun: えら.ぶ、え.る、よ.る

15 strokes · JLPT 2

手

hand

on: シュ、ズ
kun: て、て-、-て、た-

4 strokes · JLPT 4

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
全体	ぜんたい zentai	whole; entirety
団体	だんたい dantai	group; party; team
体験	たいけん taiken	(practical) experience; personal experience; hands-on experience
一体	いったい ittai	(what) the heck; (why) in the world; (who) on earth
体制	たいせい taisei	order; system; structure
体重	たいじゅう taijuu	(body) weight
操作	そうさ sousa	operation; management; handling
体操	たいそう taisou	gymnastics; physical exercises
選手	せんしゅ senshu	player (of a sport); athlete; team member
相手	あいて aite	companion; partner; company

See also: Chinese symbol for “gymnast”.

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.