Japanese symbol for “proper”

当然

とうぜん

Romaji: touzen

natural; right; proper; just

In Japanese, proper is 当然, read とうぜん (touzen).

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

adj-na, adj-no natural; right; proper; just; reasonable; appropriate
adv naturally; as a matter of course; rightly; deservedly; justly; of course

Written forms: 当然、当前. Readings: とうぜん.

Kanji and stroke order

当

hit, right, appropriate

on: トウ
kun: あ.たる、あ.たり、あ.てる、あ.て

6 strokes · JLPT 2

然

sort of thing, so, if so

on: ゼン、ネン
kun: しか、しか.り、しか.し、さ

12 strokes · JLPT 2

Other Japanese words for “proper”

Word	Reading	Meaning
適当	てきとう tekitou	suitable; proper; appropriate
正式	せいしき seishiki	formal; official; regular
適切	てきせつ tekisetsu	appropriate; suitable; fitting
正当	せいとう seitou	just; justifiable; right
本当	ほんとう hontou	proper; right; correct

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
本当	ほんとう hontou	truth; reality; actuality
当時	とうじ touji	at that time; in those days
担当	たんとう tantou	being in charge (of an area of responsibility); being responsible (for a work role, etc.)
相当	そうとう soutou	corresponding to (in meaning, function, etc.); being equivalent to
当選	とうせん tousen	being elected
自然	しぜん shizen	nature
全然	ぜんぜん zenzen	(not) at all; (not) in the slightest
突然	とつぜん totsuzen	abrupt; sudden; unexpected

See also: Chinese symbol for “proper”.

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.