Japanese symbol for “revise”
改める
あらためる
Romaji: aratameru
to change; to alter; to revise; to replace
In Japanese, revise is 改める, read あらためる (aratameru).
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
- v1, vt to change; to alter; to revise; to replace
- v1, vt to reform; to correct; to mend; to improve
- v1, vt to examine; to check; to inspect
- v1, vt to do properly; to do formally
Written forms: 改める、検める、革める、更める. Readings: あらためる.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “revise”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 変える | かえる kaeru | to reform; to revise; to amend |
| 立て直す | たてなおす tatenaosu | to make again (a plan, policy, etc.); to reformulate; to revise |
| 改む | あらたむ aratamu | to change; to alter; to revise |
| 練り直す | ねりなおす nerinaosu | to rework; to revise; to polish |
| 手を加える | てをくわえる teokuwaeru | to revise; to correct |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 改善 | かいぜん kaizen | betterment; improvement |
| 改正 | かいせい kaisei | revision; amendment; alteration |
| 改革 | かいかく kaikaku | reform; reformation; reorganization |
| 改造 | かいぞう kaizou | remodeling; remodelling; reconstruction |
| 改良 | かいりょう kairyou | improvement; reform |
| 改めて | あらためて aratamete | another time; again; over again |
See also: Chinese symbol for “revise”.
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.