Japanese symbol for “insertion”

挿入

そうにゅう

Romaji: sounyuu

insertion; interposition; interpolation; infixing

In Japanese, insertion is 挿入, read そうにゅう (sounyuu).

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 insertion; interposition; interpolation; infixing; (sexual) penetration
n interpolation (math)
n infix (gramm)

Written forms: 挿入、插入. Readings: そうにゅう.

Kanji and stroke order

挿

insert, put in, graft

on: ソウ
kun: さ.す、はさ.む

10 strokes · JLPT 1

入

enter, insert

on: ニュウ、ジュ
kun: い.る、-い.る、-い.り、い.れる

2 strokes · JLPT 4

Other Japanese words for “insertion”

Word	Reading	Meaning
掲載	けいさい keisai	publication (e.g. of an article in a newspaper); carrying (e.g. a story); running (e.g. a serial)
差し入れ	さしいれ sashiire	insertion; letter drop
差し込み	さしこみ sashikomi	insertion
組み込み	くみこみ kumikomi	cut-in (printing); insertion; inclusion
折り込み	おりこみ orikomi	insert (in a magazine, newspaper, etc.); foldout; insertion

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
挿絵	さしえ sashie	illustration (in a book, newspaper, etc.); picture
挿話	そうわ souwa	episode; side story; story within a story
挿す	さす sasu	to insert; to put in
挿管	そうかん soukan	intubation; cannulation
挿し木	さしき sashiki	cutting; planting (a cutting)
購入	こうにゅう kounyuu	purchase; buying
導入	どうにゅう dounyuu	introduction; bringing in; installation
収入	しゅうにゅう shuunyuu	income; earnings; revenue

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.