Japanese symbol for “try”

挑戦

ちょうせん

Romaji: chousen

challenge; defiance; dare; attempt

In Japanese, try is 挑戦, read ちょうせん (chousen).

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, vi, vs challenge; defiance; dare; attempt; try

Kanji and stroke order

挑

challenge, contend for, make love to

on: チョウ
kun: いど.む

9 strokes · JLPT 1

戦

war, battle, match

on: セン
kun: いくさ、たたか.う、おのの.く、そよ.ぐ

13 strokes · JLPT 2

Other Japanese words for “try”

Word	Reading	Meaning
試す	ためす tamesu	to try (out); to have a try (at); to test
見る	みる miru	to try ...; to have a go at ...; to give ... a try
試し	ためし tameshi	trial; test; try
試みる	こころみる kokoromiru	to try; to attempt; to have a go (at)
心がける	こころがける kokorogakeru	to keep in mind; to bear in mind; to try

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
挑発	ちょうはつ chouhatsu	provocation; stirring up; arousal
挑む	いどむ idomu	to challenge to (a fight, game, etc.); to throw down the gauntlet; to contend for
挑発的	ちょうはつてき chouhatsuteki	provocative; incendiary; inflammatory
初挑戦	はつちょうせん hatsuchousen	first challenge; first try
挑戦者	ちょうせんしゃ chousensha	challenger
戦争	せんそう sensou	war
戦い	たたかい tatakai	battle; war; fight
作戦	さくせん sakusen	tactics; strategy