King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Japanese symbol for “problem”

Romaji: mondai
question (e.g. on a test); problem

In Japanese, problem is , read (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

  1. n question (e.g. on a test); problem
  2. n problem (e.g. societal, political); question; issue; subject (e.g. of research); case; matter
  3. n question (i.e. doubt)
  4. n public discussion; controversy
  5. n trouble; problem; inconvenience; difficulty

Kanji and stroke order

question, ask, problem
on: モン
kun: と.う、と.い、とん
11 strokes · JLPT 3
topic, subject
on: ダイ
18 strokes · JLPT 3

Other Japanese words for “problem”

WordReadingMeaning
なやみ nayamitrouble; troubles; worry
かだい kadaiproblem (that needs solving); task; challenge
こしょう koshouproblem; hitch; obstacle
だい daiproblem (on a test); question
トラブル toraburutrouble; difficulty; problem

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

WordReadingMeaning
しつもん shitsumonquestion; inquiry; enquiry
ぎもん gimondoubt; question; suspicion
ほうもん houmoncall; visit
とう touto ask; to inquire
とい toiquestion; query
わだい wadaitopic; subject
かだい kadaisubject; theme; issue
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.

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