Japanese symbol for “mould”
型
かた
Romaji: kata
type; style; model; pattern
In Japanese, mould is 型, read かた (kata).
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, n-suf type; style; model; pattern
- n mold; mould; model; pattern; template; impression
- n kata (set sequence of positions and movements in martial arts); style (in kabuki, noh, etc.); form
- n convention; tradition; (standard) form; formula; usage
- n (set) size; inches (in sizes of displays, disks, image sensors, etc.)
- n (taxonomical) form
Written forms: 型. Readings: かた、がた.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “mould”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 鋳型 | いがた igata | mold; mould; template |
| 形作る | かたちづくる katachizukuru | to form; to shape; to make |
| 握る | にぎる nigiru | to make (nigirizushi, rice ball, etc.); to form (with one's hands); to press into shape |
| モール | モール mooru | mold; mould |
| 黴 | かび kabi | mold; mould; mildew |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 大型 | おおがた oogata | large; large-sized; large-scale |
| 体型 | たいけい taikei | figure; body shape; build |
| 小型 | こがた kogata | small-sized; small-scale; miniature |
| 典型 | てんけい tenkei | type; pattern; model |
| 模型 | もけい mokei | model; dummy; maquette |
| 髪型 | かみがた kamigata | hair style; coiffure; hairdo |
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.