King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Japanese symbol for “junior”

Romaji: kouhai
junior (at work, school, etc.); younger people; younger student

In Japanese, junior is , read (kouhai).

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

  1. n junior (at work, school, etc.); younger people; younger student

Kanji and stroke order

behind, back, later
on: ゴ、コウ
kun: のち、うし.ろ、うしろ、あと
9 strokes · JLPT 4
comrade, fellow, people
on: ハイ
kun: -ばら、やから、やかい、ともがら
15 strokes · JLPT 1

Other Japanese words for “junior”

WordReadingMeaning
としした toshishitayounger; junior
めした meshitasubordinate; subordinates; inferior
ジュニア juniajunior
かきゅう kakyuulower grade; low class; junior (officer)
じせき jisekiassociate; junior; assistant

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

WordReadingMeaning
さいご saigoend; conclusion
こんご kongofrom now on; hereafter
ごご gogoafternoon; p.m.
こうはん kouhansecond half; latter half
うしろ ushiroback; behind; rear
ちょくご chokugoimmediately following
せんぱい senpaisenior (at school, work, etc.); superior; elder
はいしゅつ haishutsuproducing (people) in great numbers; appearing one after the other

See also: Chinese symbol for “junior”.

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.

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