Japanese symbol for “reel”
枠
わく
Romaji: waku
frame; framework
In Japanese, reel is 枠, read わく (waku).
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, n-suf frame; framework
- n, n-suf border; box
- n, n-suf limit; restriction; quota
- n, n-suf category; bracket; class
- n, n-suf time slot (in a broadcasting schedule)
- n, n-suf stream; livestream; live stream; live (online) broadcast
Written forms: 枠、框. Readings: わく.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “reel”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| リール | リール riiru | reel |
| 繰る | くる kuru | to reel; to wind; to spin (thread) |
| 巻 | かん kan | volume (of book); reel (of film) |
| 糸巻き | いとまき itomaki | spool (of thread); reel; bobbin |
| 糸枠 | いとわく itowaku | reel; spool |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 枠組み | わくぐみ wakugumi | frame (physical structure); framework |
| 枠外 | わくがい wakugai | (beyond the) limits; scope; boundary |
| 別枠 | べつわく betsuwaku | additional; extraordinary; outside the norms |
| 大枠 | おおわく oowaku | general framework; broad outline; rough idea |
| 枠内 | わくない wakunai | within the limits (framework, boundaries, price, etc.) |
| 黒枠 | くろわく kurowaku | black borders; mourning borders (e.g. on an obituary) |
See also: Chinese symbol for “reel”.
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.