Japanese symbol for “paradox”
逆説
ぎゃくせつ
Romaji: gyakusetsu
paradox
In Japanese, paradox is 逆説, read ぎゃくせつ (gyakusetsu).
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 paradox
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “paradox”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| パラドックス | パラドックス paradokkusu | paradox |
| 自己矛盾 | じこむじゅん jikomujun | self-contradiction; paradox; antinomy |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 逆さ | さかさ sakasa | inverted; upside down; reversed |
| 逆転 | ぎゃくてん gyakuten | reversal (of a situation); turnaround; turnabout |
| 反逆 | はんぎゃく hangyaku | treason; treachery; mutiny |
| 逆境 | ぎゃっきょう gyakkyou | adverse circumstances; unfortunate situation; adversity |
| 逆戻り | ぎゃくもどり gyakumodori | retrogression; reversal; relapse |
| 逆らう | さからう sakarau | to go against; to oppose; to disobey |
| 説明 | せつめい setsumei | explanation; exposition; description |
| 小説 | しょうせつ shousetsu | novel; story; (work of) fiction |
See also: Chinese symbol for “paradox”.
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.