Japanese symbol for “prescription”
時効
じこう
Romaji: jikou
prescription; statute of limitations; limitation period
In Japanese, prescription is 時効, read じこう (jikou).
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 prescription; statute of limitations; limitation period (law)
- n lapsing with time (e.g. of an obligation); no longer standing (e.g. of a promise); becoming void (e.g. of a contract); becoming bygones (e.g. of a mishap)
- n ageing; aging (chem)
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “prescription”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 規定 | きてい kitei | stipulation; prescription; provision |
| 処方 | しょほう shohou | prescription (of medicine); formula |
| 処方箋 | しょほうせん shohousen | prescription |
| レシピ | レシピ reshipi | (medical) prescription |
| 薬方 | やくほう yakuhou | prescription; formula (for the preparation of a medicine); recipe |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 時間 | じかん jikan | time |
| 時代 | じだい jidai | period; epoch; era |
| 時期 | じき jiki | time; season; period |
| 当時 | とうじ touji | at that time; in those days |
| 一時 | いちじ ichiji | one o'clock |
| 同時 | どうじ douji | same time |
| 効果 | こうか kouka | effect; effectiveness; efficacy |
| 有効 | ゆうこう yuukou | valid; effective |
See also: Chinese symbol for “prescription”.
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.