Japanese symbol for “pow”

捕虜

ほりょ

Romaji: horyo

prisoner (of war); POW; captive

In Japanese, pow is 捕虜, read ほりょ (horyo).

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 prisoner (of war); POW; captive

Kanji and stroke order

捕

catch, capture

on: ホ
kun: と.らえる、と.らわれる、と.る、とら.える

10 strokes · JLPT 2

虜

captive, barbarian, low epithet for the enemy

on: リョ、ロ
kun: とりこ、とりく

13 strokes · JLPT 1

Other Japanese words for “pow”

Word	Reading	Meaning
デュクシ	デュクシ deyukushi	pow (sound of a punch landing); bam; wham
ボカッ	ボカッ boka	bop; pow; bonk
ＰＯＷ	ピー・オー・ダブリュー pii・oo・daburyuu	prisoner of war; POW
ボイン	ボイン boin	boing; sproing; pow

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
逮捕	たいほ taiho	arrest; apprehension; capture
捕獲	ほかく hokaku	capture; seizure
捕鯨	ほげい hogei	whaling; whale hunting; whale fishing
捕手	ほしゅ hoshu	catcher
捕まえる	つかまえる tsukamaeru	to catch; to capture; to arrest
虜囚	りょしゅう ryoshuu	captive; prisoner (of war)
俘虜	ふりょ furyo	prisoner of war; captive
捕虜交換	ほりょこうかん horyokoukan	prisoner exchange