Japanese symbol for “shank”
脛
すね
Romaji: sune
shin; shank; lower leg
In Japanese, shank is 脛, read すね (sune).
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 shin; shank; lower leg
Written forms: 脛、臑. Readings: すね、はぎ.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “shank”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| シャンク | シャンク shanku | shank |
| 下腿 | かたい katai | lower leg; shank |
| すね肉 | すねにく suneniku | shank (meat) |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 脛骨 | けいこつ keikotsu | tibia; shinbone |
| 脹脛 | ふくらはぎ fukurahagi | calf |
| 向こう脛 | むこうずね mukouzune | shin; front of lower leg |
| 毛脛 | けずね kezune | hairy legs |
| 脛巾 | はばき habaki | leggings; gaiters |
| 脛齧り | すねかじり sunekajiri | sponger (e.g. off one's parents); hanger-on; freeloader |
See also: Chinese symbol for “shank”.
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.