Japanese symbol for “smart”
味
あじ
Romaji: aji
flavor; flavour; taste
In Japanese, smart is 味, read あじ (aji).
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 flavor; flavour; taste
- n charm; appeal; uniqueness; attractiveness
- n experience; taste (e.g. of victory)
- adj-na smart; clever; witty; strange
- n aji; position that has some lingering potential that may be exploited later in the game (go, shogi)
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “smart”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| スマート | スマート sumaato | smart (clothing, etc.); stylish |
| 賢い | かしこい kashikoi | wise; clever; smart |
| 粋 | いき iki | chic; smart; stylish |
| 機敏 | きびん kibin | quick; prompt; alert |
| 利口 | りこう rikou | clever; intelligent; bright |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 意味 | いみ imi | meaning; significance; sense |
| 興味 | きょうみ kyoumi | interest (in something); curiosity (about something); zest (for) |
| 趣味 | しゅみ shumi | hobby; pastime |
| 味方 | みかた mikata | friend; ally; supporter |
| 気味 | きみ kimi | sensation; feeling |
| 地味 | じみ jimi | plain; simple; subdued |
See also: Chinese symbol for “smart”.
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.
Last posts
- Buying Chanbara Swords for Sparring and Competition
- What Size Shinai Does a Child Need for Kendo Practice
- Best Polypropylene Bokken for Hard Contact Training
- Best Foam Swords for Kids Martial Arts and Safe Practice
- Are Cold Steel Training Swords Good for Practice
- Shinai Maintenance and Essential Tools for Bamboo Care
- Best Shinai for Kendo Beginners Choosing Your First Sword
- Choosing the Best Bokken for Kendo Kata
- Using a Tsuba on Your Bokken for Partner Practice
- How Much Should You Spend on a Wooden Practice Sword