Japanese symbol for “pangs”

呵責

かしゃく

Romaji: kashaku

blame; accusation; torture; maltreatment

In Japanese, pangs is 呵責, read かしゃく (kashaku).

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 blame; accusation; torture; maltreatment; pangs (of conscience)

Written forms: 呵責、呵嘖. Readings: かしゃく.

Kanji and stroke order

呵

scold, blow on, reprove

on: カ
kun: か.す、しか.る、わら.う

8 strokes

責

blame, condemn, censure

on: セキ
kun: せ.める

11 strokes · JLPT 2

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
啖呵	たんか tanka	caustic words; defiant words
一気呵成	いっきかせい ikkikasei	finishing in one go; completing in one sitting; (doing something) in a single breath
呵呵	かか kaka	(laughing) loudly
呵々大笑	かかたいしょう kakataishou	laughing a ringing laugh; having a hearty laugh; roaring with laughter
責任	せきにん sekinin	duty; responsibility (incl. supervision of staff)
責め	せめ seme	responsibility; liability; blame
責務	せきむ sekimu	duty; obligation
責める	せめる semeru	to condemn; to blame; to criticize

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.