Japanese symbol for “ingestion”

摂取

せっしゅ

Romaji: sesshu

intake (e.g. of salt); ingestion

In Japanese, ingestion is 摂取, read せっしゅ (sesshu).

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, vs, vt intake (e.g. of salt); ingestion
n, vs, vt absorption (e.g. of new knowledge); adoption (e.g. of foreign culture); assimilation
n, vs, vt reception and protection (Buddh)

Written forms: 摂取、接取. Readings: せっしゅ.

Kanji and stroke order

摂

vicarious, surrogate, act in addition to

on: セツ、ショウ
kun: おさ.める、かね.る、と.る

13 strokes · JLPT 1

取

take, fetch, take up

on: シュ
kun: と.る、と.り、と.り-、とり

8 strokes · JLPT 2

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
摂理	せつり setsuri	laws (of nature)
摂る	とる toru	to have (e.g. lunch); to take (e.g. vitamins)
摂氏	せっし sesshi	Celsius; centigrade
包摂	ほうせつ housetsu	inclusion; encompassing; connotation
摂政	せっしょう sesshou	regency; regent
取引	とりひき torihiki	transactions; dealings; business
買取	かいとり kaitori	purchase; buying; buying out
取得	しゅとく shutoku	obtaining (a qualification, right, object, etc.); acquisition (of land, property, etc.); gaining possession (of)

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.