King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Japanese symbol for “pattern”

Romaji: moyou
pattern; figure; design

In Japanese, pattern is , read (moyou).

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. n pattern; figure; design
  2. n state; condition
  3. n conjecture of the current situation; the way it seems
  4. n model; pattern; example
  5. n indicates that something seems likely (e.g. rain or storm)
  6. n framework; territorial framework; moyo (go)

Kanji and stroke order

imitation, copy, mock
on: モ、ボ
14 strokes · JLPT 1
Esq., way, manner
on: ヨウ、ショウ
kun: さま、さん
14 strokes · JLPT 2

Other Japanese words for “pattern”

WordReadingMeaning
がら garapattern; design
かた katatype; style; model
こうぞう kouzoustructure; construction; makeup
もんよう mon'youpattern; design
てんけい tenkeitype; pattern; model

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

WordReadingMeaning
きぼ kiboscale; scope; plan
もけい mokeimodel; dummy; maquette
もはん mohanexemplar; model; example
しょうきぼ shoukibosmall scale
もほう mohouimitation; copying
どうよう douyousame; similar; (just) like
ようす yousustate (of affairs); situation; circumstances
さまざま samazamavarious; varied; diverse

See also: Chinese symbol for “pattern”.

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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