Japanese symbol for “perpetrator”
張本人
ちょうほんにん
Romaji: chouhonnin
originator; ringleader; perpetrator; main culprit
In Japanese, perpetrator is 張本人, read ちょうほんにん (chouhonnin).
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 originator; ringleader; perpetrator; main culprit; person responsible
Written forms: 張本人、帳本人. Readings: ちょうほんにん.
Kanji and stroke order
counter for bows & stringed instruments, stretch, spread
on: チョウ
kun: は.る、-は.り、-ば.り
kun: は.る、-は.り、-ば.り
11 strokes · JLPT 2
Other Japanese words for “perpetrator”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 星 | ほし hoshi | perp; perpetrator; culprit |
| 加害者 | かがいしゃ kagaisha | perpetrator; wrong-doer; aggressor |
| 実行犯 | じっこうはん jikkouhan | perpetrator |
| 行為者 | こういしゃ kouisha | doer; performer (of a deed); perpetrator |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 主張 | しゅちょう shuchou | claim; insistence; assertion |
| 緊張 | きんちょう kinchou | tension; strain; nervousness |
| 拡張 | かくちょう kakuchou | expansion; extension; enlargement |
| 出張 | しゅっちょう shutchou | business trip; official trip |
| 頑張る | がんばる ganbaru | to persevere; to persist; to keep at it |
| 膨張 | ぼうちょう bouchou | expansion; swelling; increase |
| 日本 | にほん nihon | Japan |
| 基本 | きほん kihon | basics; fundamentals; basis |
| 人間 | にんげん ningen | human being; human; person |
See also: Chinese symbol for “perpetrator”.
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.