Japanese symbol for “shunting”

入れ替え

いれかえ

Romaji: irekae

replacement; substitution; change

In Japanese, shunting is 入れ替え, read いれかえ (irekae).

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, vs, vt replacement; substitution; change
n, vs, vt shunting (rail); switching

Written forms: 入れ替え、入れ換え、入替え、入換え. Readings: いれかえ.

Kanji and stroke order

入

enter, insert

on: ニュウ、ジュ
kun: い.る、-い.る、-い.り、い.れる

2 strokes · JLPT 4

替

exchange, spare, substitute

on: タイ
kun: か.える、か.え-、か.わる

12 strokes · JLPT 2

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
購入	こうにゅう kounyuu	purchase; buying
導入	どうにゅう dounyuu	introduction; bringing in; installation
収入	しゅうにゅう shuunyuu	income; earnings; revenue
輸入	ゆにゅう yunyuu	import; importation; introduction
入学	にゅうがく nyuugaku	admission (to a school or university); entrance; enrolment
入院	にゅういん nyuuin	hospitalization; hospitalisation
為替	かわせ kawase	money order; draft
代替	だいたい daitai	substitution

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.