Japanese symbol for “shallows”
瀬
せ
Romaji: se
shallows; shoal
In Japanese, shallows is 瀬, read せ (se).
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 shallows; shoal
- n rapids; current; torrent
- n position; place
- n chance; opportunity
Written forms: 瀬、湍. Readings: せ.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “shallows”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 浅瀬 | あさせ asase | shoal; shallows; sand bar |
| 高瀬 | たかせ takase | shallow river; shallows |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 瀬戸 | せと seto | strait; channel |
| 浅瀬 | あさせ asase | shoal; shallows; sand bar |
| 高瀬 | たかせ takase | shallow river; shallows |
| 瀬戸際 | せとぎわ setogiwa | brink; verge; critical moment |
| 早瀬 | はやせ hayase | swift current; rapids |
| 川瀬 | かわせ kawase | rapids; shallows of a river |
See also: Chinese symbol for “shallows”.
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.