Japanese symbol for “smother”
もみ消す
もみけす
Romaji: momikesu
to stub out (e.g. a cigarette); to crush out; to smother (fire)
In Japanese, smother is もみ消す, read もみけす (momikesu).
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
- v5s, vt to stub out (e.g. a cigarette); to crush out; to smother (fire)
- v5s, vt to hush up; to cover up; to stifle; to suppress
Written forms: もみ消す、揉み消す、揉消す. Readings: もみけす.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “smother”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 握りつぶす | にぎりつぶす nigiritsubusu | to kill a proposal; to shelve; to table (remove from consideration) |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 消費 | しょうひ shouhi | consumption; expenditure; spending |
| 解消 | かいしょう kaishou | cancellation; liquidation; resolution |
| 消滅 | しょうめつ shoumetsu | extinction; extinguishment; disappearance |
| 消防 | しょうぼう shoubou | fire fighting |
| 消化 | しょうか shouka | digestion (of food) |
| 取り消し | とりけし torikeshi | cancellation; withdrawal; abolition |
See also: Chinese symbol for “smother”.
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.