Japanese symbol for “sophomore”

二回生

にかいせい

Romaji: nikaisei

second year (college) student; sophomore

In Japanese, sophomore is 二回生, read にかいせい (nikaisei).

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 second year (college) student; sophomore

Written forms: 二回生、２回生. Readings: にかいせい.

Kanji and stroke order

二

two, two radical (no. 7)

on: ニ、ジ
kun: ふた、ふた.つ、ふたたび

2 strokes · JLPT 4

回

-times, round, game

on: カイ、エ
kun: まわ.る、-まわ.る、-まわ.り、まわ.す

6 strokes · JLPT 3

生

life, genuine, birth

on: セイ、ショウ
kun: い.きる、い.かす、い.ける、う.まれる

5 strokes · JLPT 4

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
二つ	ふたつ futatsu	two
二宮	にぐう niguu	the Two Ise Shrines
二塁打	にるいだ niruida	two-base hit; double
二塁	にるい nirui	second base
二分	にぶん nibun	halving; dividing (into two parts); bisection
一石二鳥	いっせきにちょう issekinichou	killing two birds with one stone
今回	こんかい konkai	this time; now
回復	かいふく kaifuku	restoration; recovery; rehabilitation
生活	せいかつ seikatsu	life; living

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.