Japanese symbol for “koto”
琴
こと
Romaji: koto
koto (13-stringed Japanese zither)
In Japanese, koto is 琴, read こと (koto).
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 koto (13-stringed Japanese zither)
- n stringed instrument
- n zheng (Chinese zither); guzheng
Written forms: 琴、箏、筝. Readings: こと、そう.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “koto”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 小琴 | おごと ogoto | koto (usu. small) |
| 箏の琴 | そうのこと sounokoto | koto |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 琴線 | きんせん kinsen | heartstrings |
| 木琴 | もっきん mokkin | xylophone |
| 大正琴 | たいしょうごと taishougoto | Nagoya harp; Taishō koto; Japanese harp with two to five strings |
| 竪琴 | たてごと tategoto | harp; lyre |
| 月琴 | げっきん gekkin | yueqin (4-stringed Chinese lute) |
| 口琴 | こうきん koukin | mouth harp; Jew's harp |
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.