King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Japanese symbol for “optional”

Romaji: nin'i
optional; voluntary; arbitrary; random

In Japanese, optional is , read (nin'i).

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

  1. adj-na, adj-no, n optional; voluntary; arbitrary; random; discretionary; facultative
  2. adj-na, adj-no, n arbitrary (math)

Kanji and stroke order

responsibility, duty, term
on: ニン
kun: まか.せる、まか.す
6 strokes · JLPT 2
idea, mind, heart
on: イ
13 strokes · JLPT 3

Other Japanese words for “optional”

WordReadingMeaning
ずいい zuiivoluntary; optional; free
オプショナル opushonaruoptional
にんいしんごう nin'ishingouoptional
せんたくてき sentakutekiselective; optional; alternative
ずいいてき zuiitekivoluntary; optional

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

WordReadingMeaning
せきにん sekininduty; responsibility (incl. supervision of staff)
にんむ ninmuduty; function; office
しゅうにん shuuninassumption (of office); taking up (a post); inauguration
じにん jininresignation (from a position)
しゅにん shuninperson in charge; senior staff; manager
いみ imimeaning; significance; sense
ちゅうい chuuiattention; notice; heed
いしき ishikiconsciousness

See also: Chinese symbol for “optional”.

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.

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