Japanese symbol for “stranglehold”
締め
しめ
Romaji: shime
tying up; binding; fastening; tightening
In Japanese, stranglehold is 締め, read しめ (shime).
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 tying up; binding; fastening; tightening
- n total; sum
- n conclusion (e.g. of a gathering); end; finish; rounding off
- n final meal after a drinking party
- n dish made after eating a hot pot by adding rice or noodles to the leftover broth (food)
- n deadline; closing; cut-off
Written forms: 締め、〆. Readings: しめ、シメ.
Kanji and stroke order
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 取締役 | とりしまりやく torishimariyaku | company director; board member |
| 締め切り | しめきり shimekiri | deadline; closing; cut-off |
| 引き締め | ひきしめ hikishime | tightening |
| 締結 | ていけつ teiketsu | conclusion; execution (of a contract); entering (into treaty) |
| 締める | しめる shimeru | to tie; to fasten; to tighten |
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.