Japanese symbol for “tack”
釘
くぎ
Romaji: kugi
nail; spike; tack; rivet
In Japanese, tack is 釘, read くぎ (kugi).
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 nail; spike; tack; rivet; brad; (pachinko) pin
Written forms: 釘. Readings: くぎ、クギ.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “tack”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| タック | タック takku | tack; stickiness; adhesiveness |
| 鋲 | びょう byou | rivet; tack; thumbtack |
| 止める | とめる tomeru | to fix (in place); to fasten; to tack |
| 間切る | まぎる magiru | to plow through (a wave) (plough); to tack (against the wind) |
| 止めくぎ | とめくぎ tomekugi | stop peg; toggle; tack |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 釘付け | くぎづけ kugizuke | nailing on; nailing down; nailing shut |
| 五寸釘 | ごすんくぎ gosunkugi | long nail; spike |
| 釘抜き | くぎぬき kuginuki | pincers; nail puller |
| 目釘 | めくぎ mekugi | rivet on a sword hilt |
| 合い釘 | あいくぎ aikugi | double-pointed nail; dowel |
| 切り釘 | きりくぎ kirikugi | brad; double-pointed nail |
See also: Chinese symbol for “tack”.
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.