Japanese symbol for “tsunami”
津波
つなみ
Romaji: tsunami
tsunami; tidal wave
In Japanese, tsunami is 津波, read つなみ (tsunami).
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 tsunami; tidal wave
Written forms: 津波、津浪、海嘯. Readings: つなみ.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “tsunami”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 地震津波 | じしんつなみ jishintsunami | tsunami (caused by an earthquake) |
| 海嘯 | かいしょう kaishou | tsunami; tidal wave |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 興味津々 | きょうみしんしん kyoumishinshin | very interesting; of absorbing interest; having a keen interest (in) |
| 津々浦々 | つつうらうら tsutsuuraura | all over the country; throughout the land; every nook and cranny of a country |
| 大津 | おおつ ootsu | Ōtsu (city in Shiga) |
| 天津 | あまつ amatsu | heavenly; imperial |
| 電波 | でんぱ denpa | radio wave; reception; signal |
| 波乱 | はらん haran | disturbance; trouble; commotion |
| 難波 | なにわ naniwa | Naniwa (former name for Osaka region) |
| 波長 | はちょう hachou | wavelength |
See also: Chinese symbol for “tsunami”.
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.