Japanese symbol for “novice”
素人
しろうと
Romaji: shirouto
amateur; layman; ordinary person; novice
In Japanese, novice is 素人, read しろうと (shirouto).
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 amateur; layman; ordinary person; novice
- n respectable woman (i.e. not a prostitute, hostess, geisha)
- n unlicensed prostitute
Written forms: 素人. Readings: しろうと、しろと、しらびと.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “novice”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 駆け出し | かけだし kakedashi | novice; beginner |
| 新米 | しんまい shinmai | novice; beginner; newcomer |
| 雛 | ひよこ hiyoko | greenhorn; fledgeling; novice |
| 藤四郎 | とうしろ toushiro | amateur; novice; layman |
| 青二才 | あおにさい aonisai | green youth; immature youth; novice |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 要素 | ようそ youso | element; component; factor |
| 素材 | そざい sozai | ingredient; (raw) material; resource |
| 素敵 | すてき suteki | lovely; wonderful; charming |
| 素直 | すなお sunao | obedient; meek; docile |
| 酸素 | さんそ sanso | oxygen (O) |
| 人間 | にんげん ningen | human being; human; person |
| 個人 | こじん kojin | individual; private person; personal |
| 人気 | にんき ninki | popularity; public favor |
See also: Chinese symbol for “novice”.
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.