Japanese symbol for “minimal”
最小限
さいしょうげん
Romaji: saishougen
minimum; lowest; minimal; least
In Japanese, minimal is 最小限, read さいしょうげん (saishougen).
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
- adj-no, n minimum; lowest; minimal; least
- adv at a minimum
Written forms: 最小限、最少限. Readings: さいしょうげん.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “minimal”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 最小 | さいしょう saishou | smallest (in size, degree, etc.); least; minimum |
| ミニマル | ミニマル minimaru | minimal |
| ごく僅か | ごくわずか gokuwazuka | derisory; negligible; minimal |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 最近 | さいきん saikin | recently; lately; these days |
| 最後 | さいご saigo | end; conclusion |
| 最初 | さいしょ saisho | beginning; outset; first |
| 最高 | さいこう saikou | best; supreme; wonderful |
| 最終 | さいしゅう saishuu | last; final; closing |
| 最大 | さいだい saidai | biggest; greatest; largest |
| 小説 | しょうせつ shousetsu | novel; story; (work of) fiction |
| 小学校 | しょうがっこう shougakkou | primary school; elementary school; grade school |
| 限定 | げんてい gentei | limit; restriction |
See also: Chinese symbol for “minimal”.
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.