Japanese symbol for “neglecting”

放置

ほうち

Romaji: houchi

leaving as is; leaving alone; leaving unattended; neglecting

In Japanese, neglecting is 放置, read ほうち (houchi).

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, vs, vt leaving as is; leaving alone; leaving unattended; neglecting; abandoning

Kanji and stroke order

放

set free, release, fire

on: ホウ
kun: はな.す、-っぱな.し、はな.つ、はな.れる

8 strokes · JLPT 2

置

placement, put, set

on: チ
kun: お.く、-お.き

13 strokes · JLPT 2

Other Japanese words for “neglecting”

Word	Reading	Meaning
留守	るす rusu	neglecting (e.g. one's studies); leaving unattended
放ったらかし	ほったらかし hottarakashi	neglecting; leaving alone
そっち退け	そっちのけ sotchinoke	neglecting; ignoring; paying no attention to
余所	よそ yoso	not caring for; being indifferent to; taking little notice of
そこ退け	そこのけ sokonoke	neglecting; ignoring; paying no attention to

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
放送	ほうそう housou	broadcasting; broadcast; program
解放	かいほう kaihou	release; unleashing; liberation
開放	かいほう kaihou	opening (a door, window, etc.); leaving open
放題	ほうだい houdai	(doing) as one pleases; to one's heart's content; letting (something) go unchecked
放棄	ほうき houki	abandonment; renouncement; renunciation
追放	ついほう tsuihou	exile; banishment; eviction
位置	いち ichi	place; position; location
装置	そうち souchi	equipment; device; installation

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.