Japanese symbol for “radioactive”

放射性

ほうしゃせい

Romaji: houshasei

radioactive

In Japanese, radioactive is 放射性, read ほうしゃせい (houshasei).

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 radioactive

Kanji and stroke order

放

set free, release, fire

on: ホウ
kun: はな.す、-っぱな.し、はな.つ、はな.れる

8 strokes · JLPT 2

射

shoot, shine into, onto

on: シャ
kun: い.る、さ.す、う.つ

10 strokes · JLPT 1

性

sex, gender, nature

on: セイ、ショウ
kun: さが

8 strokes · JLPT 2

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
放送	ほうそう housou	broadcasting; broadcast; program
解放	かいほう kaihou	release; unleashing; liberation
開放	かいほう kaihou	opening (a door, window, etc.); leaving open
放題	ほうだい houdai	(doing) as one pleases; to one's heart's content; letting (something) go unchecked
放棄	ほうき houki	abandonment; renouncement; renunciation
追放	ついほう tsuihou	exile; banishment; eviction
注射	ちゅうしゃ chuusha	injection; jab; shot
放射能	ほうしゃのう houshanou	radioactivity
女性	じょせい josei	woman; female

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.