King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Japanese symbol for “torch”

Romaji: taimatsu
torch (made of pine, bamboo, reed, etc.); flambeau; torchlight

In Japanese, torch is , read (taimatsu).

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

  1. n torch (made of pine, bamboo, reed, etc.); flambeau; torchlight

Written forms: . Readings: .

Kanji and stroke order

pine tree
on: ショウ
kun: まつ
8 strokes · JLPT 1
bright, light
on: メイ、ミョウ、ミン
kun: あ.かり、あか.るい、あか.るむ、あか.らむ
8 strokes · JLPT 3

Other Japanese words for “torch”

WordReadingMeaning
トーチ toochitorch
かいちゅうでんとう kaichuudentou(electric) torch; flashlight
ともしび tomoshibilight; lamp; torch
きょ kyotorch
ついまつ tsuimatsutorch

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

WordReadingMeaning
あかまつ akamatsuJapanese red pine (Pinus densiflora); Japanese umbrella pine; tanyosho pine
まつばやし matsubayashipine forest
はままつ hamamatsuHamamatsu (city)
かどまつ kadomatsuNew Year's pine decoration
まつかぜ matsukaze(sound of) wind blowing through pine trees
せつめい setsumeiexplanation; exposition; description
あした ashitatomorrow
あきらか akirakaclear; obvious; evident

See also: Chinese symbol for “torch”.

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.

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