Japanese symbol for “hieroglyphics”
象形
しょうけい
Romaji: shoukei
hieroglyphics
In Japanese, hieroglyphics is 象形, read しょうけい (shoukei).
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
- adj-no, n hieroglyphics
- n pictograph; character representing a picture of an object
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “hieroglyphics”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ヒエログリフ | ヒエログリフ hierogurifu | hieroglyph; hieroglyphics |
| 聖刻文字 | せいこくもじ seikokumoji | hieroglyph; hieroglyphics |
| 神聖文字 | しんせいもじ shinseimoji | hieroglyph; hieroglyphics |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 対象 | たいしょう taishou | target; object (of worship, study, etc.); subject (of taxation, etc.) |
| 印象 | いんしょう inshou | impression |
| 現象 | げんしょう genshou | phenomenon |
| 象徴 | しょうちょう shouchou | symbol (of something abstract); emblem; (symbolic) representation |
| 気象 | きしょう kishou | weather (conditions) |
| 気象庁 | きしょうちょう kishouchou | (Japanese) Meteorological Agency; JMA |
| 形式 | けいしき keishiki | form (as opposed to substance) |
| 人形 | にんぎょう ningyou | doll; puppet; marionette |
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.