Japanese symbol for “idol”
偶像
ぐうぞう
Romaji: guuzou
image; idol; statue
In Japanese, idol is 偶像, read ぐうぞう (guuzou).
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 image; idol; statue
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “idol”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| アイドル | アイドル aidoru | idol (object of worship); image |
| 本尊 | ほんぞん honzon | idol; icon; object of adoration |
| 神像 | しんぞう shinzou | idol (i.e. carving or painting of a deity) |
| イドラ | イドラ idora | idol (esp. in the philosophy of Francis Bacon: idols of the tribe, cave, market, and theater) |
| カリスマ | カリスマ karisuma | someone famous (usu. for their talent); celebrity; idol |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 偶然 | ぐうぜん guuzen | coincidence; chance; accident |
| 偶数 | ぐうすう guusuu | even number |
| 偶発 | ぐうはつ guuhatsu | sudden outbreak; accidental; incidental |
| 配偶 | はいぐう haiguu | combination |
| 土偶 | どぐう doguu | earthen figure; clay figure |
| 画像 | がぞう gazou | image; picture; portrait |
| 映像 | えいぞう eizou | image (on a screen); picture (e.g. on a TV) |
| 想像 | そうぞう souzou | imagination; supposition; guess |
See also: Chinese symbol for “idol”.
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.