Japanese symbol for “optional”
任意
にんい
Romaji: nin'i
optional; voluntary; arbitrary; random
In Japanese, optional is 任意, read にんい (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
- adj-na, adj-no, n optional; voluntary; arbitrary; random; discretionary; facultative
- adj-na, adj-no, n arbitrary (math)
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “optional”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 随意 | ずいい zuii | voluntary; optional; free |
| オプショナル | オプショナル opushonaru | optional |
| 任意信号 | にんいしんごう nin'ishingou | optional |
| 選択的 | せんたくてき sentakuteki | selective; optional; alternative |
| 随意的 | ずいいてき zuiiteki | voluntary; optional |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 責任 | せきにん sekinin | duty; responsibility (incl. supervision of staff) |
| 任務 | にんむ ninmu | duty; function; office |
| 就任 | しゅうにん shuunin | assumption (of office); taking up (a post); inauguration |
| 辞任 | じにん jinin | resignation (from a position) |
| 主任 | しゅにん shunin | person in charge; senior staff; manager |
| 意味 | いみ imi | meaning; significance; sense |
| 注意 | ちゅうい chuui | attention; notice; heed |
| 意識 | いしき ishiki | consciousness |
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.