Japanese symbol for “intonation”
抑揚
よくよう
Romaji: yokuyou
intonation; accent; modulation; inflection
In Japanese, intonation is 抑揚, read よくよう (yokuyou).
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 intonation; accent; modulation; inflection
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “intonation”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| アクセント | アクセント akusento | intonation; inflection; cadence |
| イントネーション | イントネーション intoneeshon | intonation |
| 声 | しょう shou | stress (in pronunciation); intonation; accent |
| 音調 | おんちょう onchou | tune; tone; intonation |
| 節回し | ふしまわし fushimawashi | melody; intonation |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 抑制 | よくせい yokusei | control; restraint; suppression |
| 抑える | おさえる osaeru | to keep within limits (e.g. spending); to restrain (e.g. emotions); to control |
| 抑え | おさえ osae | weight (e.g. paperweight); pressing down |
| 抑圧 | よくあつ yokuatsu | check; restraint; oppression |
| 抑止 | よくし yokushi | keeping in check; holding back; deterrence |
| 抑留 | よくりゅう yokuryuu | internment; detainment; detention |
| 揚げ | あげ age | deep-frying; deep-fried food |
| 高揚 | こうよう kouyou | elevation (of spirits); raising (of morale); uplift |
See also: Chinese symbol for “intonation”.
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.