Japanese symbol for “shrink”
縮む
ちぢむ
Romaji: chijimu
to shrink; to contract; to diminish (in size)
In Japanese, shrink is 縮む, read ちぢむ (chijimu).
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
- v5m, vi to shrink; to contract; to diminish (in size)
Written forms: 縮む. Readings: ちぢむ、ちじむ.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “shrink”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 縮まる | ちぢまる chijimaru | to shorten; to narrow; to close |
| 屈する | くっする kussuru | to yield; to give in; to be daunted |
| 縮める | ちぢめる chijimeru | to shorten; to reduce; to condense |
| 詰まる | つまる tsumaru | to be become shorter; to shrink; to narrow |
| 縮み込む | ちぢみこむ chijimikomu | to shrink; to contract; to diminish (in size) |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 縮小 | しゅくしょう shukushou | reduction; curtailment; cut |
| 短縮 | たんしゅく tanshuku | shortening; contraction; reduction |
| 圧縮 | あっしゅく asshuku | compression |
| 濃縮 | のうしゅく noushuku | concentration (e.g. of a solution); enrichment; condensation |
| 萎縮 | いしゅく ishuku | withering; shrivelling; shrinking |
| 恐縮 | きょうしゅく kyoushuku | feeling (much) obliged; being (very) grateful; being thankful |
See also: Chinese symbol for “shrink”.
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.