Japanese symbol for “machine”
機械
きかい
Romaji: kikai
machine; mechanism
In Japanese, machine is 機械, read きかい (kikai).
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 machine; mechanism
- n instrument; appliance; apparatus
Written forms: 機械、器械. Readings: きかい.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “machine”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| マシン | マシン mashin | machine |
| 機 | き ki | machine |
| 削り出す | けずりだす kezuridasu | to machine; to cut; to scrape |
| 機械装置 | きかいそうち kikaisouchi | machine; mechanism; gadget |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 機能 | きのう kinou | function; facility; faculty |
| 機関 | きかん kikan | engine |
| 機会 | きかい kikai | chance; opportunity; occasion |
| 危機 | きき kiki | crisis; critical situation; emergency |
| 機構 | きこう kikou | mechanism; machinery |
| 器械体操 | きかいたいそう kikaitaisou | apparatus gymnastics; artistic gymnastics |
| 工作機械 | こうさくきかい kousakukikai | machine tool |
| 機械化 | きかいか kikaika | mechanization; mechanisation |
See also: Chinese symbol for “machine”.
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.