Japanese symbol for “nail”
爪
つめ
Romaji: tsume
nail (e.g. fingernail, toenail); claw; talon; hoof
In Japanese, nail is 爪, read つめ (tsume).
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 nail (e.g. fingernail, toenail); claw; talon; hoof
- n plectrum; pick
- n hook; clasp
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “nail”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 釘 | くぎ kugi | nail; spike; tack |
| ネイル | ネイル neiru | nail; fingernail |
| 打ち付ける | うちつける uchitsukeru | to nail (to something); to nail down; to fasten (to) |
| 止める | とめる tomeru | to fix (in place); to fasten; to tack |
| 扁爪 | ひらづめ hirazume | nail (e.g. fingernail, toenail) |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 爪楊枝 | つまようじ tsumayouji | toothpick |
| 爪痕 | つめあと tsumeato | fingernail mark; scratch |
| 鉤爪 | かぎづめ kagizume | claw; talon |
| 深爪 | ふかづめ fukazume | cutting a fingernail (or toenail) to the quick; cutting a nail too close |
| 爪先立ち | つまさきだち tsumasakidachi | standing on tiptoes |
See also: Chinese symbol for “nail”.
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.