Japanese symbol for “pieces”
番
ばん
Romaji: ban
number (in a series)
In Japanese, pieces is 番, read ばん (ban).
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 number (in a series)
- n (one's) turn
- n watch; guard; lookout
- n-suf rank; standing; position
- n, n-suf bout; match (sumo)
- n-suf pieces (in a collection)
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “pieces”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ビリビリ | ビリビリ biribiri | (tear) to pieces; (rip) apart; (rip) up |
| 切れ切れ | きれぎれ kiregire | pieces; scraps |
| 寸々 | ずたずた zutazuta | to pieces; into shreds |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 一番 | いちばん ichiban | number one; first; first place |
| 番組 | ばんぐみ bangumi | program (e.g. TV); programme |
| 番号 | ばんごう bangou | number; series of digits |
| 本番 | ほんばん honban | performance (as opposed to practice); going before an audience or on-air; take |
| 順番 | じゅんばん junban | order; turn |
| 出番 | でばん deban | one's turn; one's shift |
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.