Japanese symbol for “penalty”
刑
けい
Romaji: kei
penalty; sentence; punishment
In Japanese, penalty is 刑, read けい (kei).
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, n-suf penalty; sentence; punishment
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “penalty”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 罰金 | ばっきん bakkin | fine; penalty |
| 罪 | つみ tsumi | penalty; sentence; punishment |
| 処罰 | しょばつ shobatsu | punishment; penalty |
| 罰則 | ばっそく bassoku | punishment; penalty |
| 処分 | しょぶん shobun | punishment; penalty |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 刑事 | けいじ keiji | (police) detective |
| 死刑 | しけい shikei | death penalty; capital punishment |
| 刑務所 | けいむしょ keimusho | prison; jail; gaol |
| 処刑 | しょけい shokei | execution |
| 刑法 | けいほう keihou | criminal law; penal code |
| 実刑 | じっけい jikkei | prison sentence (without a stay of execution) |
See also: Chinese symbol for “penalty”.
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.
Last posts
- Buying a Tai Chi Broadsword for Practice
- Stainless Steel vs Chrome-Plated Jian for Martial Arts
- Why Your Tai Chi Sword Rattles and How to Buy a Better One
- Choosing the Right Sword Tassel for Balance and Style
- Choosing a Tai Chi Sword Bag for Daily Practice
- Best Tai Chi Swords with Scabbards for Daily Training
- How Much Should You Spend on a Tai Chi Sword Budgeting Tips
- Tai Chi vs Wushu Swords What Sets Them Apart
- Are Flexible Wushu Swords Suitable for Tai Chi Forms
- Best Unsharpened Tai Chi Jian for Forms and Training