Japanese symbol for “ropes”
骨
こつ
Romaji: kotsu
knack; skill; trick; secret
In Japanese, ropes is 骨, read こつ (kotsu).
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 knack; skill; trick; secret; know-how; the ropes
- n bone; skeleton
- n cremated remains (esp. the bones); ashes
Written forms: 骨. Readings: こつ、コツ.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “ropes”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ノウハウ | ノウハウ nouhau | know-how; expertise; the ropes |
| 要領 | ようりょう youryou | knack; trick; the ropes |
| 骨法 | こっぽう koppou | knack; the ropes |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 骨折 | こっせつ kossetsu | bone fracture |
| 露骨 | ろこつ rokotsu | open; unconcealed; undisguised |
| 鉄骨 | てっこつ tekkotsu | steel frame; steel beam; steel girder |
| 骨格 | こっかく kokkaku | skeleton; skeletal structure; build |
| 背骨 | せぼね sebone | spine; backbone; spinal column |
| 遺骨 | いこつ ikotsu | cremated remains (esp. the bones); ashes |
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.