Japanese symbol for “tattoo”

入れ墨

いれずみ

Romaji: irezumi

tattoo (esp. a traditional Japanese one); tattooing

In Japanese, tattoo is 入れ墨, read いれずみ (irezumi).

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, vs tattoo (esp. a traditional Japanese one); tattooing

Kanji and stroke order

入

enter, insert

on: ニュウ、ジュ
kun: い.る、-い.る、-い.り、い.れる

2 strokes · JLPT 4

墨

black ink, India ink, ink stick

on: ボク
kun: すみ

14 strokes · JLPT 1

Other Japanese words for “tattoo”

Word	Reading	Meaning
タトゥー	タトゥー tatuu	tattoo (esp. one in a style other than traditional Japanese)
刺青	しせい shisei	tattoo (esp. a traditional Japanese one); tattooing
彫る	ほる horu	to tattoo
文身	ぶんしん bunshin	tattoo (esp. a traditional Japanese one); tattooing
倶利迦羅紋紋	くりからもんもん kurikaramonmon	tattoo (esp. one of a flame-wreathed dragon wrapped around and swallowing the tip of an upright sword); person with a tattoo

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
購入	こうにゅう kounyuu	purchase; buying
導入	どうにゅう dounyuu	introduction; bringing in; installation
収入	しゅうにゅう shuunyuu	income; earnings; revenue
輸入	ゆにゅう yunyuu	import; importation; introduction
入学	にゅうがく nyuugaku	admission (to a school or university); entrance; enrolment
入院	にゅういん nyuuin	hospitalization; hospitalisation
墨絵	すみえ sumie	ink painting
お墨付き	おすみつき osumitsuki	certificate; certified document; authorization

See also: Chinese symbol for “tattoo”.

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.