Japanese symbol for “pimp”
紐
ひも
Romaji: himo
string; cord
In Japanese, pimp is 紐, read ひも (himo).
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 string; cord
- n leash
- n man who is financially dependent on a woman; gigolo; pimp
- n restrictions; conditions
- n mantle (shellfish, etc.)
- n small intestine (beef, pork); oviduct meat (chicken) (food)
Written forms: 紐. Readings: ひも、ヒモ.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “pimp”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 妓夫 | ぎゅう gyuu | pimp; brothel tout |
| 女衒 | ぜげん zegen | someone who makes their living selling women into prostitution; pimp; procurer |
| 嬪夫 | ピンプ pinpu | pimp; procurer; someone who makes their living selling women into prostitution |
| 牛太郎 | ぎゅうたろう gyuutarou | brothel tout; pimp |
| ポン引き | ポンびき ponbiki | pimp |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 紐解く | ひもとく himotoku | to read (a book); to open (a book) to read |
| 組紐 | くみひも kumihimo | braid; plaited cord |
| 紐帯 | ちゅうたい chuutai | tie; social bond; link |
| 腰紐 | こしひも koshihimo | cord tied around the waist of a kimono before an obi is tied |
| 真田紐 | さなだひも sanadahimo | braid |
| 紐育 | ニューヨーク nyuuyooku | New York |
See also: Chinese symbol for “pimp”.
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.