Japanese symbol for “snail”
蝸牛
かたつむり
Romaji: katatsumuri
snail
In Japanese, snail is 蝸牛, read かたつむり (katatsumuri).
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 snail
Written forms: 蝸牛. Readings: かたつむり、カタツムリ、かたつぶり.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “snail”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 巻き貝 | まきがい makigai | snail; spiral shell |
| エスカルゴ | エスカルゴ esukarugo | (edible) snail (esp. Roman snail, Helix pomatia) |
| でんでん虫 | でんでんむし dendenmushi | snail |
| 舞々 | まいまい maimai | snail |
| でで虫 | ででむし dedemushi | snail |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 蝸牛角上 | かぎゅうかくじょう kagyuukakujou | trifling (fight); (a conflict) between small countries |
| 蝸牛神経 | かぎゅうしんけい kagyuushinkei | cochlear nerve |
| 蝸牛殻 | かぎゅうかく kagyuukaku | cochlea |
| 蝸角 | かかく kakaku | eyestalk (on a snail) |
| 牛乳 | ぎゅうにゅう gyuunyuu | (cow's) milk |
| 牛肉 | ぎゅうにく gyuuniku | beef |
| 和牛 | わぎゅう wagyuu | Wagyu (any of four breeds of Japanese cattle); Wagyu beef |
| 水牛 | すいぎゅう suigyuu | water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis); domestic Asian water buffalo |
See also: Chinese symbol for “snail”.
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.