Japanese symbol for “mortal”

命取り

いのちとり

Romaji: inochitori

fatal; deadly; mortal

In Japanese, mortal is 命取り, read いのちとり (inochitori).

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 fatal; deadly; mortal

Written forms: 命取り、命とり. Readings: いのちとり.

Kanji and stroke order

命

fate, command, decree

on: メイ、ミョウ
kun: いのち

8 strokes · JLPT 2

取

take, fetch, take up

on: シュ
kun: と.る、と.り、と.り-、とり

8 strokes · JLPT 2

Other Japanese words for “mortal”

Word	Reading	Meaning
モータル	モータル mootaru	mortal
死すべき	しすべき shisubeki	mortal

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
生命	せいめい seimei	life; existence
革命	かくめい kakumei	revolution
命令	めいれい meirei	order; command; decree
運命	うんめい unmei	fate; destiny; lot
一生懸命	いっしょうけんめい isshoukenmei	very hard; with utmost effort; as hard as one can
寿命	じゅみょう jumyou	lifespan; life; lifetime
取引	とりひき torihiki	transactions; dealings; business
買取	かいとり kaitori	purchase; buying; buying out

See also: Chinese symbol for “mortal”.

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.