Japanese symbol for “layoffs”

首切り

くびきり

Romaji: kubikiri

decapitation; beheading

In Japanese, layoffs is 首切り, read くびきり (kubikiri).

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 decapitation; beheading
n firings; dismissals; layoffs; downsizing
n small samurai sword used for decapitation

Written forms: 首切り、首斬り. Readings: くびきり.

Kanji and stroke order

首

neck, counter for songs and poems

on: シュ
kun: くび

9 strokes · JLPT 3

切

cut, cutoff, be sharp

on: セツ、サイ
kun: き.る、-き.る、き.り、-き.り

4 strokes · JLPT 3

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
首相	しゅしょう shushou	prime minister; chancellor (Germany, Austria, etc.); premier
首都	しゅと shuto	(national) capital (city); metropolis
首脳	しゅのう shunou	head; leader; top
手首	てくび tekubi	wrist
足首	あしくび ashikubi	ankle
乳首	ちくび chikubi	nipple; teat
大切	たいせつ taisetsu	important; significant; serious
一切	いっさい issai	all; everything; entirety

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.