Japanese symbol for “pen”
小屋
こや
Romaji: koya
hut; cabin; shed; (animal) pen
In Japanese, pen is 小屋, read こや (koya).
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 hut; cabin; shed; (animal) pen
- n small theatre (theater); temporary playhouse; circus tent; booth
- n one's own house
Written forms: 小屋. Readings: こや、しょうおく.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “pen”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 筆 | ふで fude | writing brush; paintbrush; pen |
| ペン | ペン pen | pen |
| 囲い | かこい kakoi | enclosure; fence; wall |
| 書く | かく kaku | to write; to compose; to pen |
| 檻 | おり ori | cage; pen; (jail) cell |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 小説 | しょうせつ shousetsu | novel; story; (work of) fiction |
| 小学校 | しょうがっこう shougakkou | primary school; elementary school; grade school |
| 小学生 | しょうがくせい shougakusei | elementary school student; primary school student; grade school student |
| 小型 | こがた kogata | small-sized; small-scale; miniature |
| 小さい | ちいさい chiisai | small; little; tiny |
| 縮小 | しゅくしょう shukushou | reduction; curtailment; cut |
| 部屋 | へや heya | room; chamber |
| 屋根 | やね yane | roof |
See also: Chinese symbol for “pen”.
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.