Japanese symbol for “stretching”
伸び
のび
Romaji: nobi
growth; development
In Japanese, stretching is 伸び, read のび (nobi).
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 growth; development
- n stretching (one's body, e.g. when waking up)
- n (ability to) spread (of paint, cream, etc.)
- n elongation; extension; carry (e.g. of sound); sustain
- n nobi; solid extension; thick extension (go)
Written forms: 伸び、延び. Readings: のび、ノビ.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “stretching”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 伸し | のし noshi | stretching |
| 伸長 | しんちょう shinchou | expansion; extension; elongation |
| 延べ | のべ nobe | stretching |
| 延伸 | えんしん enshin | stretching; extension; elongation |
| 引っ張り | ひっぱり hippari | pulling; stretching; tension |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 伸びる | のびる nobiru | to stretch; to extend; to lengthen |
| 伸ばす | のばす nobasu | to grow long (e.g. hair, nails) |
| 伸縮 | しんしゅく shinshuku | expansion and contraction; elasticity; flexibility |
| 伸び伸び | のびのび nobinobi | comfortably; peacefully; freely |
| 伸長 | しんちょう shinchou | expansion; extension; elongation |
See also: Chinese symbol for “stretching”.
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.