Japanese symbol for “peek”

In Japanese, peek is 覗く, read のぞく (nozoku).

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. v5k, vt to peek (through a keyhole, gap, etc.)
2. v5k, vt to look down into (a ravine, etc.)
3. v5k, vt to peek into (a shop, bookstore, etc.)
4. v5k, vt to sneak a look at; to take a quick look at
5. v5k, vt to peep (through a telescope, microscope, etc.)
6. v5k, vi to stick out (a scarf from a collar, etc.); to peek through (sky through a forest canopy, etc.)

Written forms: 覗く、覘く、窺く、臨く. Readings: のぞく.

Kanji and stroke order

↻ Replay stroke order

Other Japanese words for “peek”

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

See also: Chinese symbol for “peek”.

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.