Japanese symbol for “relationship”
関係
かんけい
Romaji: kankei
relation; relationship; connection
In Japanese, relationship is 関係, read かんけい (kankei).
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, vi, vs relation; relationship; connection
- n, vi, vs participation; involvement; concern
- n, vi, vs influence; effect
- n, vi, vs sexual relations; sexual relationship
- n-suf related to; connected to
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “relationship”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 仲 | なか naka | relation; relationship |
| 絡み | からみ karami | linkage; entanglement; involvement |
| 訳 | わけ wake | (romantic) relationship; love affair |
| 間 | あいだ aida | relations (between); relationship |
| 絆 | きずな kizuna | bond (between people); (emotional) ties; bonds |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 関連 | かんれん kanren | relation; connection; relevance |
| 機関 | きかん kikan | engine |
| 関心 | かんしん kanshin | concern; interest |
| 玄関 | げんかん genkan | entrance; front door; entryway |
| 関西 | かんさい kansai | Kansai (region comprising Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe and surrounding prefectures) |
| 係長 | かかりちょう kakarichou | subsection head; assistant manager; chief clerk |
| 係員 | かかりいん kakariin | person in charge; official; attendant |
| 係数 | けいすう keisuu | coefficient |
See also: Chinese symbol for “relationship”.
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.