Japanese symbol for “subversive”

破壊分子

はかいぶんし

Romaji: hakaibunshi

subversive; subversive element

In Japanese, subversive is 破壊分子, read はかいぶんし (hakaibunshi).

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 subversive; subversive element

Kanji and stroke order

破

rend, rip, tear

on: ハ
kun: やぶ.る、やぶ.れる、わ.れる

10 strokes · JLPT 2

壊

demolition, break, destroy

on: カイ、エ
kun: こわ.す、こわ.れる、やぶ.る

16 strokes · JLPT 1

分

part, minute of time, segment

on: ブン、フン、ブ
kun: わ.ける、わ.け、わ.かれる、わ.かる

4 strokes · JLPT 4

子

child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM

on: シ、ス、ツ
kun: こ、-こ、ね

3 strokes · JLPT 4

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
破壊	はかい hakai	destruction; disruption
突破	とっぱ toppa	breaking through; breakthrough; penetration
破産	はさん hasan	bankruptcy; insolvency
破る	やぶる yaburu	to tear; to rip; to break
破損	はそん hason	damage; breakage
破片	はへん hahen	fragment; broken piece; splinter
崩壊	ほうかい houkai	collapse; crumbling; breaking down
壊す	こわす kowasu	to break; to destroy; to demolish
自分	じぶん jibun	myself; yourself; oneself
子供	こども kodomo	child; children

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.