Japanese symbol for “looper”

尺取り虫

しゃくとりむし

Romaji: shakutorimushi

inchworm; measuring worm; looper (caterpillar)

In Japanese, looper is 尺取り虫, read しゃくとりむし (shakutorimushi).

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 inchworm; measuring worm; looper (caterpillar)

Written forms: 尺取り虫、尺取虫. Readings: しゃくとりむし.

Kanji and stroke order

尺

shaku, Japanese foot, measure

on: シャク、セキ
kun: さし

4 strokes · JLPT 1

取

take, fetch, take up

on: シュ
kun: と.る、と.り、と.り-、とり

8 strokes · JLPT 2

虫

insect, bug, temper

on: チュウ、キ
kun: むし

6 strokes · JLPT 2

Other Japanese words for “looper”

Word	Reading	Meaning
尺取	しゃくとり shakutori	measuring worm; inchworm; looper (caterpillar)

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
尺八	しゃくはち shakuhachi	shakuhachi; end-blown fippleless bamboo flute
尺度	しゃくど shakudo	gauge; standard; measure
縮尺	しゅくしゃく shukushaku	reduced scale; scaling down
巻尺	まきじゃく makijaku	tape measure
計算尺	けいさんじゃく keisanjaku	slide rule
曲尺	かねじゃく kanejaku	carpenter's square (for checking angles)
取引	とりひき torihiki	transactions; dealings; business
買取	かいとり kaitori	purchase; buying; buying out
昆虫	こんちゅう konchuu	insect; bug

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.