King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Japanese symbol for “prevent”

Romaji: habamu
to keep someone from doing; to stop; to prevent; to check

In Japanese, prevent is , read (habamu).

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

  1. v5m, vt to keep someone from doing; to stop; to prevent; to check; to hinder; to obstruct

Written forms: . Readings: .

Kanji and stroke order

thwart, separate from, prevent
on: ソ
kun: はば.む
8 strokes · JLPT 1

Other Japanese words for “prevent”

WordReadingMeaning
ふせぐ fuseguto prevent; to avert; to avoid
くいとめる kuitomeruto check; to hold back; to keep at bay
さまたげる samatageruto disturb; to prevent; to obstruct
こばむ kobamuto prevent (from doing); to deny (e.g. access); to block
とめる tomeruto prevent; to suppress (a cough); to hold back (tears)

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

WordReadingMeaning
そし soshiobstruction; prevention; hindrance
そがい sogaiobstruction; impediment; hindrance
つわり tsuwarimorning sickness; nausea and vomiting of pregnancy
そきゃく sokyakurejection

See also: Chinese symbol for “prevent”.

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.

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