Japanese symbol for “karate”

空手

からて

Romaji: karate

karate

In Japanese, karate is 空手, read からて (karate).

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 karate
n being empty-handed; having nothing in one's hands

Written forms: 空手、唐手. Readings: からて.

Kanji and stroke order

空

empty, sky, void

on: クウ
kun: そら、あ.く、あ.き、あ.ける

8 strokes · JLPT 4

手

hand

on: シュ、ズ
kun: て、て-、-て、た-

4 strokes · JLPT 4

Other Japanese words for “karate”

Word	Reading	Meaning
空手道	からてどう karatedou	the way of karate; karate

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
空気	くうき kuuki	air; atmosphere
空港	くうこう kuukou	airport
空間	くうかん kuukan	space; room; airspace
航空	こうくう koukuu	aviation; flying
航空機	こうくうき koukuuki	aircraft
空中	くうちゅう kuuchuu	(in) the air; midair; sky
相手	あいて aite	companion; partner; company
選手	せんしゅ senshu	player (of a sport); athlete; team member

See also: Chinese symbol for “karate”.

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.