King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Japanese symbol for “sophistication”

Romaji: kyouyou
(understanding or appreciation of) culture; (one's) education; cultivation; sophistication

In Japanese, sophistication is , read (kyouyou).

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 (understanding or appreciation of) culture; (one's) education; cultivation; sophistication; refinement

Kanji and stroke order

teach, faith, doctrine
on: キョウ
kun: おし.える、おそ.わる
11 strokes · JLPT 3
foster, bring up, rear
on: ヨウ、リョウ
kun: やしな.う
15 strokes · JLPT 1

Other Japanese words for “sophistication”

WordReadingMeaning
だて dateelegance; dandyism; sophistication
あかぬけ akanukerefinement; style; sophistication
ひねり hineriingenuity; sophistication (e.g. of writing style); taste
がみ gamirefinement; elegance; sophistication
いきづくり ikizukuristylishness (esp. of a woman working at a nightclub, etc.); sophistication; refinement

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

WordReadingMeaning
きょういく kyouikueducation; schooling; training
おしえ oshieteaching; instruction; teachings
きょうじゅ kyoujuprofessor
きょうし kyoushiteacher; instructor
しゅうきょう shuukyoureligion; religious affiliation; belief
きょうしつ kyoushitsuclassroom; lecture room
えいよう eiyounutrition; nourishment
ようせい youseitraining; education; development

See also: Chinese symbol for “sophistication”.

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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