Japanese symbol for “reprogramming”

初期化

しょきか

Romaji: shokika

initialization (of a variable); initialisation

In Japanese, reprogramming is 初期化, read しょきか (shokika).

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, vs, vt initialization (of a variable); initialisation (comp)
n, vs, vt formatting (a disk); initialization (comp)
n, vs, vt initialization (of a device); (factory) reset (comp)
n, vs, vt reprogramming (biochem)

Kanji and stroke order

初

first time, beginning

on: ショ
kun: はじ.め、はじ.めて、はつ、はつ-

7 strokes · JLPT 2

期

period, time, date

on: キ、ゴ

12 strokes · JLPT 2

化

change, take the form of, influence

on: カ、ケ
kun: ば.ける、ば.かす、ふ.ける、け.する

4 strokes · JLPT 2

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
最初	さいしょ saisho	beginning; outset; first
初期	しょき shoki	early days; early years; early stages
当初	とうしょ tousho	beginning; start; outset
初日	しょにち shonichi	first day; opening day
初めて	はじめて hajimete	for the first time
初心者	しょしんしゃ shoshinsha	beginner
期間	きかん kikan	period; term; interval
期待	きたい kitai	expectation; anticipation; hope
文化	ぶんか bunka	culture; civilization; civilisation

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.