Japanese symbol for “jerusalem”

耶路撒冷

エルサレム

Romaji: erusaremu

Jerusalem

In Japanese, jerusalem is 耶路撒冷, read エルサレム (erusaremu).

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 Jerusalem

Written forms: 耶路撒冷. Readings: エルサレム、イェルサレム.

Kanji and stroke order

耶

question mark

on: ヤ、ジャ
kun: か

9 strokes · JLPT 1

路

path, route, road

on: ロ、ル
kun: -じ、みち

13 strokes · JLPT 2

撒

scatter, sprinkle, give them the slip

on: サン、サツ
kun: ま.く

15 strokes

冷

cool, cold (beer, person), chill

on: レイ
kun: つめ.たい、ひ.える、ひ.や、ひ.ややか

7 strokes · JLPT 2

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
有耶無耶	うやむや uyamuya	indefinite; hazy; vague
伽耶	かや kaya	Kaya (ancient Korean confederacy); Karak
耶蘇教	やそきょう yasokyou	Christianity
耶蘇	やそ yaso	Jesus (Christ)
耶嬢	やじょう yajou	father and mother
阿頼耶識	あらやしき arayashiki	alaya-vijnana (store consciousness, consciousness forming the base of all human existence)
道路	どうろ douro	road; highway
路上	ろじょう rojou	on the road; on the street; in the street
撒く	まく maku	to scatter; to sprinkle; to strew
冷静	れいせい reisei	calmness; composure; coolness

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.