King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Japanese symbol for “radical”

Romaji: kyuugeki
sudden; abrupt; rapid; sharp

In Japanese, radical is , read (kyuugeki).

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. adj-na sudden; abrupt; rapid; sharp; drastic; radical

Written forms: . Readings: .

Kanji and stroke order

hurry, emergency, sudden
on: キュウ
kun: いそ.ぐ、いそ.ぎ、せ.く
9 strokes · JLPT 3
violent, get excited, enraged
on: ゲキ
kun: はげ.しい
16 strokes · JLPT 1

Other Japanese words for “radical”

WordReadingMeaning
かげき kagekiextreme (measure, idea, etc.); radical; violent (language)
ぶしゅ bushuradical (of a kanji character)
せんえい sen'eiradical; acute; sharp
ラジカル rajikaruradical
アングラ anguraunderground (film, theater, etc.); unconventional; alternative

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

WordReadingMeaning
きんきゅう kinkyuuurgency; emergency
きゅうそく kyuusokurapid (e.g. progress)
とっきゅう tokkyuulimited express (train for which a limited-express ticket is required)
きゅうきょ kyuukyohurriedly; in a hurry; hastily
きゅうぞう kyuuzourapid increase; sharp rise; proliferation
しげき shigekistimulus; stimulation; irritation (esp. of the body, e.g. skin, eyes)
はげしい hageshiiviolent; furious; tempestuous
かんげき kangekideep emotion; impression; inspiration

See also: Chinese symbol for “radical”.

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.

Last posts

  1. Best Wooden Naginata for Practice and How to Choose Yours
  2. Choosing a Keikogi for Hakama Compatibility and Performance
  3. What Size Hakama Should I Order for Proper Fit
  4. Best Aikido Hakama for Beginners Choosing Your First Pair
  5. Kendo Bogu Costs and Timing Your First Purchase
  6. Best Kendo Starter Sets for Beginners and How to Choose
  7. Best Sword Oil and Cloth Kits for Wooden Training Weapons
  8. Is Hickory a Good Wood for a Practice Sword
  9. Best Bokken for Tall Practitioners Choosing the Right Fit
  10. How Heavy Should a Practice Bokken Be for Training