Japanese symbol for “japanese”
日本語
にほんご
Romaji: nihongo
Japanese (language)
In Japanese, japanese is 日本語, read にほんご (nihongo).
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 Japanese (language)
Written forms: 日本語. Readings: にほんご、にっぽんご.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “japanese”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ジャパニーズ | ジャパニーズ japaniizu | Japanese (people, language, style) |
| 邦文 | ほうぶん houbun | Japanese (language) |
| 日本側 | にほんがわ nihongawa | the Japanese; Japanese side; Japanese delegation |
| 日本的 | にほんてき nihonteki | (typically) Japanese |
| 御国言葉 | みくにことば mikunikotoba | Japanese (language) |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 今日 | きょう kyou | today; this day |
| 日本 | にほん nihon | Japan |
| 毎日 | まいにち mainichi | every day; daily |
| 明日 | あした ashita | tomorrow |
| 昨日 | きのう kinou | yesterday |
| 日常 | にちじょう nichijou | everyday; daily; ordinary |
| 基本 | きほん kihon | basics; fundamentals; basis |
| 本当 | ほんとう hontou | truth; reality; actuality |
| 英語 | えいご eigo | English (language) |
See also: Chinese symbol for “japanese”.
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.