Japanese symbol for “keepsake”
記念
きねん
Romaji: kinen
commemoration; celebration; remembrance; memory
In Japanese, keepsake is 記念, read きねん (kinen).
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, vs, vt commemoration; celebration; remembrance; memory; honoring the memory of
- n memento; souvenir; keepsake
Written forms: 記念、紀念. Readings: きねん.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “keepsake”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 遺品 | いひん ihin | things left (to one) by the deceased; inherited item; estate |
| 形見 | かたみ katami | memento (esp. of a deceased person); keepsake; heirloom |
| 遺物 | いぶつ ibutsu | keepsake; memento; relic (of a deceased person) |
| 忘れ形見 | わすれがたみ wasuregatami | memento (from a dead person); souvenir; keepsake |
| 思い出の品 | おもいでのしな omoidenoshina | keepsake; memorabilia; memento |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 記事 | きじ kiji | article; news story; report |
| 記録 | きろく kiroku | record; document; minutes |
| 記憶 | きおく kioku | memory; recollection; remembrance |
| 記者 | きしゃ kisha | reporter; journalist |
| 日記 | にっき nikki | diary; journal |
| 残念 | ざんねん zannen | regrettable; unfortunate; disappointing |
| 概念 | がいねん gainen | general idea; concept; notion |
| 懸念 | けねん kenen | worry; fear; anxiety |
See also: Chinese symbol for “keepsake”.
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.