Japanese symbol for “modernisation”

近代化

きんだいか

Romaji: kindaika

modernization; modernisation

In Japanese, modernisation is 近代化, read きんだいか (kindaika).

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, vi, vs modernization; modernisation

Kanji and stroke order

近

near, early, akin

on: キン、コン
kun: ちか.い

7 strokes · JLPT 3

代

substitute, change, convert

on: ダイ、タイ
kun: か.わる、かわ.る、かわ.り、か.わり

5 strokes · JLPT 3

化

change, take the form of, influence

on: カ、ケ
kun: ば.ける、ば.かす、ふ.ける、け.する

4 strokes · JLPT 2

Other Japanese words for “modernisation”

Word	Reading	Meaning
現代化	げんだいか gendaika	modernization; modernisation

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
最近	さいきん saikin	recently; lately; these days
近所	きんじょ kinjo	neighbourhood; neighborhood; vicinity
付近	ふきん fukin	neighborhood; neighbourhood; vicinity
近い	ちかい chikai	near; close; short (distance)
近代	きんだい kindai	present day; modern times; recent times
接近	せっきん sekkin	getting closer; drawing nearer; approaching
時代	じだい jidai	period; epoch; era
代表	だいひょう daihyou	representation; representative; delegate
文化	ぶんか bunka	culture; civilization; civilisation

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.