Japanese symbol for “junkyard”

解体屋

かいたいや

Romaji: kaitaiya

demolition contractor; wrecker

In Japanese, junkyard is 解体屋, read かいたいや (kaitaiya).

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 demolition contractor; wrecker
n scrapyard; junkyard; auto wrecker; vehicle dismantler

Kanji and stroke order

解

unravel, notes, key

on: カイ、ゲ
kun: と.く、と.かす、と.ける、ほど.く

13 strokes · JLPT 2

体

body, substance, object

on: タイ、テイ
kun: からだ、かたち

7 strokes · JLPT 3

屋

roof, house, shop

on: オク
kun: や

9 strokes · JLPT 3

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
理解	りかい rikai	understanding; comprehension; appreciation
解決	かいけつ kaiketsu	settlement; solution; resolution
解説	かいせつ kaisetsu	explanation; commentary; exposition
解散	かいさん kaisan	breaking up (a meeting, gathering, etc.); dispersal (e.g. of a crowd)
解放	かいほう kaihou	release; unleashing; liberation
解除	かいじょ kaijo	termination (of a contract); cancellation; rescinding
全体	ぜんたい zentai	whole; entirety
団体	だんたい dantai	group; party; team
部屋	へや heya	room; chamber

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.