Japanese symbol for “movie”
映画
えいが
Romaji: eiga
movie; film; motion picture
In Japanese, movie is 映画, read えいが (eiga).
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 movie; film; motion picture
Written forms: 映画、映畫、映畵. Readings: えいが.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “movie”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 写真 | しゃしん shashin | moving picture; movie |
| ムービー | ムービー muubii | movie; film |
| 本編 | ほんぺん honpen | the movie (as opposed to the trailers; at a movie theater); feature film (main item in a cinema program) |
| 電影 | でんえい den'ei | movie; film |
| 劇場版 | げきじょうばん gekijouban | movie version (based on TV series, anime, etc.); the movie |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 映像 | えいぞう eizou | image (on a screen); picture (e.g. on a TV) |
| 上映 | じょうえい jouei | screening (a movie); showing |
| 反映 | はんえい han'ei | reflection (of light) |
| 放映 | ほうえい houei | televising; broadcasting; airing |
| 映る | うつる utsuru | to be reflected; to harmonize with (harmonise); to come out (photo) |
| 漫画 | まんが manga | cartoon; comic; comic strip |
| 計画 | けいかく keikaku | plan; project; schedule |
| 画像 | がぞう gazou | image; picture; portrait |
See also: Chinese symbol for “movie”.
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.