Japanese symbol for “text”
本文
ほんぶん
Romaji: honbun
text (of a book, document, etc.); body (of a letter)
In Japanese, text is 本文, read ほんぶん (honbun).
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 text (of a book, document, etc.); body (of a letter)
- n this passage; this sentence
Written forms: 本文. Readings: ほんぶん、ほんもん.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “text”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 条文 | じょうぶん joubun | text (of a law, treaty, contract, etc.); provisions |
| テキスト | テキスト tekisuto | text |
| 文 | ぶん bun | composition; text; writings |
| メール | メール meeru | message (in an instant messaging application); instant message; IM |
| 主文 | しゅぶん shubun | text (of a judicial decision) |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 日本 | にほん nihon | Japan |
| 基本 | きほん kihon | basics; fundamentals; basis |
| 本当 | ほんとう hontou | truth; reality; actuality |
| 本人 | ほんにん honnin | the person in question; the person themselves; said person |
| 本来 | ほんらい honrai | originally; primarily |
| 本気 | ほんき honki | seriousness; earnestness; truth |
| 文化 | ぶんか bunka | culture; civilization; civilisation |
| 文字 | もじ moji | letter (of an alphabet); character |
See also: Chinese symbol for “text”.
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.