Japanese symbol for “must”
筈
はず
Romaji: hazu
should (be); bound (to be); expected (to be); must (be)
In Japanese, must is 筈, read はず (hazu).
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
- aux should (be); bound (to be); expected (to be); must (be)
- n nock (of a bow)
- n nock (of an arrow)
- n nock-shaped grip (between thumb and forefinger) (sumo)
- n wooden frame on the tip of the mast of a Japanese ship that prevents the hawser from falling out
Written forms: 筈、弭. Readings: はず.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “must”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| マスト | マスト masuto | must (juice of grapes or other fruit prior to fermentation into wine) |
| 可し | べし beshi | must; should; ought to |
| 可き | べき beki | should; must; ought to |
| 嘸 | さぞ sazo | surely; certainly; no doubt |
| ざるべからず | ざるべからず zarubekarazu | must (do, be) |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 矢筈 | やはず yahazu | nock of an arrow |
| 筈がない | はずがない hazuganai | it cannot be that ...; it is highly unlikely that ...; it is impossible that ... |
| 矢筈模様 | やはずもよう yahazumoyou | herring-bone pattern; herringbone pattern |
| 筈緒 | はずお hazuo | hemp rope fastened from the bow of a Japanese ship to the tip of the mast |
| その筈 | そのはず sonohazu | only natural; no wonder; as expected |
| 筈のない | はずのない hazunonai | that is not supposed to ...; that ought not to ...; that should never ... |
See also: Chinese symbol for “must”.
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.