Japanese symbol for “loophole”
穴
あな
Romaji: ana
hole; opening; orifice; perforation
In Japanese, loophole is 穴, read あな (ana).
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 hole; opening; orifice; perforation
- n pit; hollow; cavity; hole (e.g. in the ground)
- n burrow; den; lair; holt; hole
- n deficit; shortage; (financial) hole; loss
- n gap (left by a missing employee, team member, etc.); vacancy; opening
- n flaw; fault; defect; weak point; hole (in a theory, plan, etc.); loophole
Written forms: 穴、孔. Readings: あな.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “loophole”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 狭間 | さま sama | loophole (in a castle wall); arrow slit; crenel |
| 狭間 | はざま hazama | loophole (in a castle wall); arrow slit; crenel |
| 抜け道 | ぬけみち nukemichi | loophole; way out (of trouble); excuse |
| 抜け穴 | ぬけあな nukeana | loophole |
| 盲点 | もうてん mouten | blind spot; weak point; loophole |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 墓穴 | ぼけつ boketsu | grave (pit) |
| 穴埋め | あなうめ anaume | filling (up) a hole |
| 落とし穴 | おとしあな otoshiana | pitfall; trap; pit |
| 毛穴 | けあな keana | pore (of the skin) |
| 洞穴 | ほらあな horaana | cave; cavern; den |
| 風穴 | かざあな kazaana | air hole; windhole; air vent |
See also: Chinese symbol for “loophole”.
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.