Japanese symbol for “research”
研究
けんきゅう
Romaji: kenkyuu
research; study; investigation
In Japanese, research is 研究, read けんきゅう (kenkyuu).
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 research; study; investigation
Written forms: 研究、硏究. Readings: けんきゅう.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “research”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 探究 | たんきゅう tankyuu | research; investigation; enquiry |
| 探索 | たんさく tansaku | search; lookup; hunt |
| 研 | けん ken | research (institute, laboratory, group, etc.) |
| リサーチ | リサーチ risaachi | research |
| 考究 | こうきゅう koukyuu | investigation; inquiry; research |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 研究所 | けんきゅうじょ kenkyuujo | research institute; (research) laboratory |
| 研修 | けんしゅう kenshuu | training (esp. in-service); induction course |
| 研磨 | けんま kenma | grinding; polishing |
| 研ぐ | とぐ togu | to sharpen; to hone; to whet |
| 研ぎ | とぎ togi | polish; grinding; sharpening |
| 究極 | きゅうきょく kyuukyoku | ultimate; final; last |
| 究明 | きゅうめい kyuumei | investigation (esp. in academic and scientific contexts); finding out the facts; bringing (a matter) to light |
| 探究 | たんきゅう tankyuu | research; investigation; enquiry |
See also: Chinese symbol for “research”.
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.