Japanese symbol for “retainer”
家来
けらい
Romaji: kerai
retainer; vassal; follower
In Japanese, retainer is 家来, read けらい (kerai).
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 retainer; vassal; follower
Written forms: 家来、家礼、家頼. Readings: けらい.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “retainer”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 側近 | そっきん sokkin | close aide (of a powerful person); close associate; entourage |
| 臣 | おみ omi | retainer; attendant |
| 家臣 | かしん kashin | vassal; retainer |
| 家人 | けにん kenin | retainer; vassal; servant |
| 臣下 | しんか shinka | retainer; subject; vassal |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 家族 | かぞく kazoku | family |
| 国家 | こっか kokka | state; country; nation |
| 家庭 | かてい katei | home; household; family |
| 作家 | さっか sakka | author; writer; novelist |
| 実家 | じっか jikka | (one's parents') home |
| 農家 | のうか nouka | farmer; farming family |
| 未来 | みらい mirai | (distant) future |
| 出来る | できる dekiru | to be able to do; to be possible; to be permitted (to do) |
See also: Chinese symbol for “retainer”.
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.