Japanese symbol for “offset”

相殺

そうさい

Romaji: sousai

offset; offsetting each other; cancelling each other out; counterbalancing

In Japanese, offset is 相殺, read そうさい (sousai).

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 offset; offsetting each other; cancelling each other out; counterbalancing
n, vs, vt set-off; setoff (law)
n, vs, vt killing each other

Written forms: 相殺. Readings: そうさい、そうさつ.

Kanji and stroke order

相

inter-, mutual, together

on: ソウ、ショウ
kun: あい-

9 strokes · JLPT 2

殺

kill, murder, butcher

on: サツ、サイ、セツ
kun: ころ.す、-ごろ.し、そ.ぐ、あや.める

10 strokes · JLPT 2

Other Japanese words for “offset”

Word	Reading	Meaning
偏り	かたより katayori	deviation; inclination; offset
オフセット	オフセット ofusetto	offset
埋め合わせる	うめあわせる umeawaseru	to make up for; to compensate for; to offset
カバー	カバー kabaa	to cover (a loss); to offset; to compensate for (e.g. a weakness)
見合う	みあう miau	to correspond (to); to be proportionate (to); to be in keeping with

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
相手	あいて aite	companion; partner; company
相談	そうだん soudan	consultation; discussion; discussing
相当	そうとう soutou	corresponding to (in meaning, function, etc.); being equivalent to
首相	しゅしょう shushou	prime minister; chancellor (Germany, Austria, etc.); premier
相互	そうご sougo	mutual; reciprocal
相撲	すもう sumou	sumo (wrestling)
殺人	さつじん satsujin	murder; homicide; manslaughter
自殺	じさつ jisatsu	suicide

See also: Chinese symbol for “offset”.

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.