Japanese symbol for “intellectualism”

主知主義

しゅちしゅぎ

Romaji: shuchishugi

intellectualism

In Japanese, intellectualism is 主知主義, read しゅちしゅぎ (shuchishugi).

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 intellectualism

Kanji and stroke order

主

lord, chief, master

on: シュ、ス、シュウ
kun: ぬし、おも、あるじ

5 strokes · JLPT 3

知

know, wisdom

on: チ
kun: し.る、し.らせる

8 strokes · JLPT 3

主

lord, chief, master

on: シュ、ス、シュウ
kun: ぬし、おも、あるじ

5 strokes · JLPT 3

義

righteousness, justice, morality

on: ギ

13 strokes · JLPT 1

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
主義	しゅぎ shugi	doctrine; rule; principle
主張	しゅちょう shuchou	claim; insistence; assertion
民主	みんしゅ minshu	democracy; popular sovereignty
主催	しゅさい shusai	sponsorship (i.e. conducting under one's auspices); promotion; organizing
主要	しゅよう shuyou	chief; main; principal
主人	しゅじん shujin	head (of a household); proprietor (of a store); proprietress
知る	しる shiru	to know; to be aware (of); to be conscious (of)
知識	ちしき chishiki	knowledge; information
正義	せいぎ seigi	justice; right; righteousness

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.