King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Japanese symbol for “skeleton”

Romaji: kokkaku
skeleton; skeletal structure; build; frame

In Japanese, skeleton is , read (kokkaku).

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

  1. n skeleton; skeletal structure; build; frame; physique
  2. n framework

Written forms: . Readings: .

Kanji and stroke order

skeleton, bone, remains
on: コツ
kun: ほね
10 strokes · JLPT 2
status, rank, capacity
on: カク、コウ、キャク、ゴウ
10 strokes · JLPT 2

Other Japanese words for “skeleton”

WordReadingMeaning
がいこつ gaikotsuskeleton
はっこつ hakkotsuwhite (bleached) bone; skeleton
ほねぐみ honegumiskeletal frame; skeleton; build
スケルトン sukerutonskeleton (of a vertebrate, ship, building, etc.)
こつ kotsubone; skeleton

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

WordReadingMeaning
こっせつ kossetsubone fracture
ろこつ rokotsuopen; unconcealed; undisguised
てっこつ tekkotsusteel frame; steel beam; steel girder
せぼね sebonespine; backbone; spinal column
いこつ ikotsucremated remains (esp. the bones); ashes
かかく kakakuprice; value; cost
せいかく seikakucharacter (of a person); personality; disposition
しかく shikakuqualifications; requirements; capabilities

See also: Chinese symbol for “skeleton”.

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.

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