Japanese symbol for “orca”
鯱
しゃち
Romaji: shachi
orca (Orcinus orca); killer whale; grampus
In Japanese, orca is 鯱, read しゃち (shachi).
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 orca (Orcinus orca); killer whale; grampus
- n shachi; mythical carp with the head of a tiger and the body of a fish, considered auspicious protectors of well-being
- n roof ornament in the shape of a shachi (believed to provide protection against fire by causing rain to fall)
Written forms: 鯱. Readings: しゃち、シャチ.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “orca”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| グランパス | グランパス guranpasu | orca (Orcinus orca); killer whale; grampus |
| オルカ | オルカ oruka | orca (Orcinus orca); killer whale; grampus |
| 逆叉 | さかまた sakamata | orca; killer whale |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 金鯱 | きんしゃち kinshachi | golden shachihoko (ornament) |
| 鯱瓦 | しゃちほこがわら shachihokogawara | ridge-end tile with the figure of a shachihoko (e.g. on a castle) |
| 鯱張る | しゃちほこばる shachihokobaru | to stand on ceremony |
| 鯱鉾立ち | さっちょこだち satchokodachi | handstand; headstand |
| 小鯱海豚 | こしゃちいるか koshachiiruka | Haviside's dolphin (Cephalorhynchus heavisidii) |
| 金の鯱 | きんのしゃち kinnoshachi | golden shachihoko (ornament) |
See also: Chinese symbol for “orca”.
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.