Japanese symbol for “mishandling”

誤使用

ごしよう

Romaji: goshiyou

improper use; wrong use; misuse; mishandling

In Japanese, mishandling is 誤使用, read ごしよう (goshiyou).

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, vs improper use; wrong use; misuse; mishandling; abuse

Kanji and stroke order

誤

mistake, err, do wrong

on: ゴ
kun: あやま.る、-あやま.る

14 strokes · JLPT 2

使

use, send on a mission, order

on: シ
kun: つか.う、つか.い、-つか.い、-づか.い

8 strokes · JLPT 3

用

utilize, business, service

on: ヨウ
kun: もち.いる

5 strokes · JLPT 3

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
誤解	ごかい gokai	misunderstanding
誤り	あやまり ayamari	error; mistake; slip
誤差	ごさ gosa	measurement error; calculation error
試行錯誤	しこうさくご shikousakugo	trial and error
誤字	ごじ goji	misprint; misspelling; typo
誤報	ごほう gohou	false report; incorrect report; misinformation
使用	しよう shiyou	use; application; employment
使う	つかう tsukau	to use (a tool, method, etc.); to make use of; to put to use
利用	りよう riyou	use; utilization; utilisation

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.