Japanese symbol for “refrain”
繰り返し
くりかえし
Romaji: kurikaeshi
repetition; repeat; reiteration; iteration
In Japanese, refrain is 繰り返し, read くりかえし (kurikaeshi).
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 repetition; repeat; reiteration; iteration; refrain; cycle
- adv repeatedly; again and again; continually; persistently
Written forms: 繰り返し、くり返し、繰返し、繰りかえし. Readings: くりかえし.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “refrain”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 控える | ひかえる hikaeru | to be temperate in; to refrain; to abstain |
| 折り返し | おりかえし orikaeshi | chorus; refrain |
| ルフラン | ルフラン rufuran | refrain |
| 差し控える | さしひかえる sashihikaeru | to refrain (from doing); to withhold (an announcement, comment, etc.) |
| 慎む | つつしむ tsutsushimu | to do in moderation; to refrain (from overdoing); to abstain |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 繰り返す | くりかえす kurikaesu | to repeat; to do over again |
| 繰り上げ | くりあげ kuriage | upward move; advance |
| 資金繰り | しきんぐり shikinguri | fundraising; financing; cash flow |
| 繰り出す | くりだす kuridasu | to draw (a thread); to let out (e.g. a rope) |
| 繰り延べ | くりのべ kurinobe | postponement |
| 返事 | へんじ henji | reply; answer; response |
| 返還 | へんかん henkan | return; restoration |
| 返済 | へんさい hensai | repayment; reimbursement; refund |
See also: Chinese symbol for “refrain”.
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.