Japanese symbol for “mechanism”
機構
きこう
Romaji: kikou
mechanism; machinery
In Japanese, mechanism is 機構, read きこう (kikou).
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 mechanism; machinery
- n system; structure; organization; framework
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “mechanism”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 機械 | きかい kikai | machine; mechanism |
| 仕組み | しくみ shikumi | structure; construction; arrangement |
| 過程 | かてい katei | process; course; mechanism |
| 仕掛け | しかけ shikake | device; contrivance; mechanism |
| メカニズム | メカニズム mekanizumu | mechanism |
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 |
| 機械 | きかい kikai | machine; mechanism |
| 危機 | きき kiki | crisis; critical situation; emergency |
| 結構 | けっこう kekkou | splendid; nice; wonderful |
| 構造 | こうぞう kouzou | structure; construction; makeup |
| 構成 | こうせい kousei | composition; construction; formation |
See also: Chinese symbol for “mechanism”.
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.