Japanese symbol for “rhinoceros”
犀
さい
Romaji: sai
rhinoceros
In Japanese, rhinoceros is 犀, read さい (sai).
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 rhinoceros
Written forms: 犀. Readings: さい、サイ.
Kanji and stroke order
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 金木犀 | きんもくせい kinmokusei | fragrant olive (Osmanthus fragrans var. aurantiacus) |
| 木犀 | もくせい mokusei | fragrant olive (Osmanthus fragrans); sweet olive |
| 烏犀角 | うさいかく usaikaku | black rhinoceros horn |
| 犀利 | さいり sairi | sharp; keen |
| 銀木犀 | ぎんもくせい ginmokusei | tea olive (Osmanthus fragrans); fragrant olive; sweet olive |
| 白犀 | しろさい shirosai | white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) |
See also: Chinese symbol for “rhinoceros”.
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.