Japanese symbol for “running”
運転
うんてん
Romaji: unten
operation (of a machine); running; working
In Japanese, running is 運転, read うんてん (unten).
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, vi, vs operation (of a machine); running; working
- n, vs, vt driving (a vehicle)
- n, vs, vt use (of capital, funds, etc.); management; investment
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “running”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 経営 | けいえい keiei | management; administration; operation |
| 走行 | そうこう soukou | running (of a car, bus, etc.); traveling; travelling |
| 掲載 | けいさい keisai | publication (e.g. of an article in a newspaper); carrying (e.g. a story); running (e.g. a serial) |
| 走り | はしり hashiri | running |
| 出馬 | しゅつば shutsuba | running (for election); coming forward as a candidate |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 運動 | うんどう undou | exercise; physical training; workout |
| 運営 | うんえい un'ei | management; administration; operation |
| 運用 | うんよう un'you | making use of; application; practical use |
| 運命 | うんめい unmei | fate; destiny; lot |
| 運ぶ | はこぶ hakobu | to carry; to transport; to move |
| 自転車 | じてんしゃ jitensha | bicycle; bike |
| 回転 | かいてん kaiten | rotation; revolution; turn |
| 移転 | いてん iten | moving; relocation; change of address |
See also: Chinese symbol for “running”.
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.