Japanese symbol for “monkey”
猿
さる
Romaji: saru
monkey (esp. the Japanese macaque, Macaca fuscata); ape; non-human primate
In Japanese, monkey is 猿, read さる (saru).
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 monkey (esp. the Japanese macaque, Macaca fuscata); ape; non-human primate
- n sly person
- n idiot; hick
- n sliding wooden bolt (for holding a door or window shut)
- n clasp used to control the height of a pot-hook
- n bathhouse prostitute
Written forms: 猿、猨. Readings: さる、サル.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “monkey”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 申 | さる saru | the Monkey (ninth sign of the Chinese zodiac) |
| モンキー | モンキー monkii | monkey |
| 猿猴 | えんこう enkou | monkey (esp. a gibbon) |
| 沐猴 | もっこう mokkou | monkey |
| 真猿 | まさる masaru | monkey (esp. the Japanese macaque, Macaca fuscata) |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 類人猿 | るいじんえん ruijin'en | anthropoid ape; anthropoid; ape |
| 犬猿 | けんえん ken'en | cats and dogs (as an example of a bad relationship); dogs and monkeys |
| 猿真似 | さるまね sarumane | indiscriminate imitation; monkey see, monkey do; blind follower |
| 野猿 | やえん yaen | wild monkey |
| 猿楽 | さるがく sarugaku | sarugaku (form of theatre popular in Japan during the 11th to 14th centuries) |
| 猿轡 | さるぐつわ sarugutsuwa | (mouth) gag |
See also: Chinese symbol for “monkey”.
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.