Japanese symbol for “perfunctory”
適当
てきとう
Romaji: tekitou
suitable; proper; appropriate; adequate
In Japanese, perfunctory is 適当, read てきとう (tekitou).
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
- adj-na, n suitable; proper; appropriate; adequate; fit; fair
- adj-na, n perfunctory; half-minded; sloppy; lazy; careless; noncommittal
Written forms: 適当. Readings: てきとう、テキトー.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “perfunctory”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| いい加減 | いいかげん iikagen | irresponsible; perfunctory; careless |
| 半端 | はんぱ hanpa | halfway; half-hearted; perfunctory |
| 生 | なま nama | insufficient; incomplete; half-baked |
| 小手先 | こてさき kotesaki | cheap; makeshift (e.g. measures); shortsighted |
| 通り一遍 | とおりいっぺん tooriippen | perfunctory; cursory; passing |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 適用 | てきよう tekiyou | application (of a rule, law, method, etc.) |
| 適切 | てきせつ tekisetsu | appropriate; suitable; fitting |
| 最適 | さいてき saiteki | most suitable; optimum; optimal |
| 適応 | てきおう tekiou | adaptation; accommodation; conformity |
| 快適 | かいてき kaiteki | pleasant; agreeable; comfortable |
| 本当 | ほんとう hontou | truth; reality; actuality |
| 当時 | とうじ touji | at that time; in those days |
| 担当 | たんとう tantou | being in charge (of an area of responsibility); being responsible (for a work role, etc.) |
See also: Chinese symbol for “perfunctory”.
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.