Japanese symbol for “sheen”
艶
つや
Romaji: tsuya
gloss; luster; lustre; shine
In Japanese, sheen is 艶, read つや (tsuya).
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 gloss; luster; lustre; shine; sheen; polish
- n mellowness (of a voice); youthfulness (e.g. of skin)
- n interest; appeal; charm; color; colour; feeling
- n romance; love; sexiness
Written forms: 艶. Readings: つや、ツヤ.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “sheen”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 土味 | つちあじ tsuchiaji | gloss; sheen (surface quality found in unglazed pottery) |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 妖艶 | ようえん youen | fascinating; voluptuous; bewitching |
| 艶姿 | あですがた adesugata | charming figure; alluring figure |
| 艶笑 | えんしょう enshou | seductive smile |
| 艶々 | つやつや tsuyatsuya | glossy; bright; slick |
| 艶かしい | なまめかしい namamekashii | charming; captivating; bewitching |
| 艶めく | つやめく tsuyameku | to be glossy; to glisten; to shine with a luster |
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.