Japanese symbol for “problem”
問題
もんだい
Romaji: mondai
question (e.g. on a test); problem
In Japanese, problem is 問題, read もんだい (mondai).
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 question (e.g. on a test); problem
- n problem (e.g. societal, political); question; issue; subject (e.g. of research); case; matter
- n question (i.e. doubt)
- n public discussion; controversy
- n trouble; problem; inconvenience; difficulty
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “problem”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 悩み | なやみ nayami | trouble; troubles; worry |
| 課題 | かだい kadai | problem (that needs solving); task; challenge |
| 故障 | こしょう koshou | problem; hitch; obstacle |
| 題 | だい dai | problem (on a test); question |
| トラブル | トラブル toraburu | trouble; difficulty; problem |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 質問 | しつもん shitsumon | question; inquiry; enquiry |
| 疑問 | ぎもん gimon | doubt; question; suspicion |
| 訪問 | ほうもん houmon | call; visit |
| 問う | とう tou | to ask; to inquire |
| 問い | とい toi | question; query |
| 話題 | わだい wadai | topic; subject |
| 課題 | かだい kadai | subject; theme; issue |
| 放題 | ほうだい houdai | (doing) as one pleases; to one's heart's content; letting (something) go unchecked |
See also: Chinese symbol for “problem”.
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.