Japanese symbol for “iron”
鉄
てつ
Romaji: tetsu
iron (Fe)
In Japanese, iron is 鉄, read てつ (tetsu).
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 iron (Fe)
- n steel
- adj-no, n iron (will, discipline, lady, etc.)
- n, n-pref, n-suf railway
- n-suf railway enthusiast
Written forms: 鉄、鐵. Readings: てつ.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “iron”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 鉄分 | てつぶん tetsubun | iron (content) |
| アイロン | アイロン airon | iron (for pressing clothes) |
| アイアン | アイアン aian | iron |
| 黒金 | くろがね kurogane | iron |
| アイロンを掛ける | アイロンをかける airon'okakeru | to iron; to do the ironing |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 鉄道 | てつどう tetsudou | railroad; railway; rail transport |
| 地下鉄 | ちかてつ chikatetsu | subway; metro; underground (railway) |
| 国鉄 | こくてつ kokutetsu | national railway |
| 鉄骨 | てっこつ tekkotsu | steel frame; steel beam; steel girder |
| 鉄筋 | てっきん tekkin | rebar; (iron) reinforcing bar; reinforcing steel |
| 私鉄 | してつ shitetsu | private railway |
See also: Chinese symbol for “iron”.
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.