Japanese symbol for “key”
鍵
かぎ
Romaji: kagi
key
In Japanese, key is 鍵, read かぎ (kagi).
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 key
- n lock
- n key (to a problem, success, etc.); clue
Written forms: 鍵、鑰. Readings: かぎ、カギ.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “key”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 重要 | じゅうよう juuyou | important; essential; significant |
| 調子 | ちょうし choushi | tune; tone; key |
| キー | キー kii | key (for a lock) |
| 手がかり | てがかり tegakari | clue; lead; key |
| 親 | おや oya | key; parent (organization); main |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 鍵盤 | けんばん kenban | keyboard (of a piano, typewriter, etc.) |
| 合鍵 | あいかぎ aikagi | duplicate key |
| 鍵屋 | かぎや kagiya | locksmith |
| 打鍵 | だけん daken | keystroke; typing |
| 鍵穴 | かぎあな kagiana | keyhole |
| 鍵っ子 | かぎっこ kagikko | latchkey child; latchkey kid |
See also: Chinese symbol for “key”.
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.