Japanese symbol for “succeed”
継ぐ
つぐ
Romaji: tsugu
to succeed (a person, to a position, etc.); to inherit; to take over; to follow
In Japanese, succeed is 継ぐ, read つぐ (tsugu).
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
- v5g, vt to succeed (a person, to a position, etc.); to inherit; to take over; to follow
- v5g, vt to patch (clothes); to mend; to repair
- v5g, vt to add (e.g. charcoal to the fire); to replenish with; to feed with; to follow up with (e.g. remarks); to gather (one's breath)
- v5g, vt to connect (stones) (go)
Written forms: 継ぐ、嗣ぐ、続ぐ、襲ぐ. Readings: つぐ、ツぐ.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “succeed”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 替わる | かわる kawaru | to succeed; to relieve; to replace |
| 受け継ぐ | うけつぐ uketsugu | to inherit; to succeed; to take over |
| 襲う | おそう osou | to succeed (someone in a post, role, etc.) |
| 受ける | うける ukeru | to follow; to succeed; to be descended from |
| 決まる | きまる kimaru | to be well executed (of a manoeuvre in a sport, game, etc.); to go well; to succeed |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 継続 | けいぞく keizoku | continuation; continuance; maintenance |
| 中継 | ちゅうけい chuukei | relay; hook-up |
| 後継 | こうけい koukei | succession |
| 引き継ぐ | ひきつぐ hikitsugu | to take over (someone's duties, business, etc.); to inherit; to succeed to |
| 継承 | けいしょう keishou | inheritance; succession; accession |
| 中継ぎ | なかつぎ nakatsugi | joining; joint |
See also: Chinese symbol for “succeed”.
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.