Japanese symbol for “hermeneutics”

解釈学

かいしゃくがく

Romaji: kaishakugaku

hermeneutics

In Japanese, hermeneutics is 解釈学, read かいしゃくがく (kaishakugaku).

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 hermeneutics

Kanji and stroke order

解

unravel, notes, key

on: カイ、ゲ
kun: と.く、と.かす、と.ける、ほど.く

13 strokes · JLPT 2

釈

explanation

on: シャク、セキ
kun: とく、す.てる、ゆる.す

11 strokes · JLPT 1

学

study, learning, science

on: ガク
kun: まな.ぶ

8 strokes · JLPT 4

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
理解	りかい rikai	understanding; comprehension; appreciation
解決	かいけつ kaiketsu	settlement; solution; resolution
解説	かいせつ kaisetsu	explanation; commentary; exposition
解散	かいさん kaisan	breaking up (a meeting, gathering, etc.); dispersal (e.g. of a crowd)
解放	かいほう kaihou	release; unleashing; liberation
解除	かいじょ kaijo	termination (of a contract); cancellation; rescinding
解釈	かいしゃく kaishaku	interpretation; explanation; reading
釈放	しゃくほう shakuhou	release; liberation; acquittal
学校	がっこう gakkou	school

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.