King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Japanese symbol for “hieroglyphics”

Romaji: shoukei
hieroglyphics

In Japanese, hieroglyphics is , read (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

  1. adj-no, n hieroglyphics
  2. n pictograph; character representing a picture of an object

Kanji and stroke order

elephant, pattern after, imitate
on: ショウ、ゾウ
kun: かたど.る
12 strokes · JLPT 2
shape, form, style
on: ケイ、ギョウ
kun: かた、-がた、かたち、なり
7 strokes · JLPT 2

Other Japanese words for “hieroglyphics”

WordReadingMeaning
ヒエログリフ hierogurifuhieroglyph; hieroglyphics
せいこくもじ seikokumojihieroglyph; hieroglyphics
しんせいもじ shinseimojihieroglyph; hieroglyphics

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

WordReadingMeaning
たいしょう taishoutarget; object (of worship, study, etc.); subject (of taxation, etc.)
いんしょう inshouimpression
げんしょう genshouphenomenon
しょうちょう shouchousymbol (of something abstract); emblem; (symbolic) representation
きしょう kishouweather (conditions)
きしょうちょう kishouchou(Japanese) Meteorological Agency; JMA
けいしき keishikiform (as opposed to substance)
にんぎょう ningyoudoll; 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.

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