Japanese symbol for “twofold”

二倍

にばい

Romaji: nibai

double; twice (as much); twofold

In Japanese, twofold is 二倍, read にばい (nibai).

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

adj-no, n double; twice (as much); twofold

Written forms: 二倍、２倍. Readings: にばい.

Kanji and stroke order

二

two, two radical (no. 7)

on: ニ、ジ
kun: ふた、ふた.つ、ふたたび

2 strokes · JLPT 4

倍

double, twice, times

on: バイ

10 strokes · JLPT 2

Other Japanese words for “twofold”

Word	Reading	Meaning
一倍	いちばい ichibai	double; twice (as much); twofold

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
二つ	ふたつ futatsu	two
二宮	にぐう niguu	the Two Ise Shrines
二塁打	にるいだ niruida	two-base hit; double
二塁	にるい nirui	second base
二分	にぶん nibun	halving; dividing (into two parts); bisection
一石二鳥	いっせきにちょう issekinichou	killing two birds with one stone
倍率	ばいりつ bairitsu	magnification; leverage; amplification
倍増	ばいぞう baizou	doubling; double

See also: Chinese symbol for “twofold”.

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.