King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Japanese symbol for “unclean”

Romaji: fuketsu
unclean; dirty; unsanitary; filthy

In Japanese, unclean is , read (fuketsu).

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. adj-na, n unclean; dirty; unsanitary; filthy
  2. adj-na, n indecent; dirty (story, money, etc.); obscene; immoral

Kanji and stroke order

negative, non-, bad
on: フ、ブ
4 strokes · JLPT 3
undefiled, pure, clean
on: ケツ
kun: いさぎよ.い
15 strokes · JLPT 1

Other Japanese words for “unclean”

WordReadingMeaning
きたない kitanaidirty; filthy; foul
ふじょう fujouunclean; dirty; impure
むずかしい muzukashiidirty; unclean; filthy
ばっちい batchiidirty; unclean
ばばっちい babatchiidirty; unclean

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

WordReadingMeaning
ふめい fumeiunclear; obscure; indistinct
ふあん fuananxiety; uneasiness; worry
ふそく fusokuinsufficiency; deficiency; shortage
ふまん fumandissatisfaction; discontent; displeasure
ふかのう fukanouimpossible
ふしぎ fushigiwonderful; marvelous; strange
せいけつ seiketsuclean; hygienic; sanitary
けっぱく keppakuinnocence; guiltlessness; purity

See also: Chinese symbol for “unclean”.

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.

Last posts

  1. Selecting a Bokken for Outdoor Training
  2. Are Unvarnished Bokken Better for Grip Than Lacquered Ones
  3. Best Wooden Butterfly Knives for Wing Chun Form Practice
  4. Choosing a Bokken Set for Training Quality and Durability
  5. Best Lightweight Bokken for Older Students and Senior Aikido
  6. Choosing a Bokken for Koryu Practice by School Requirements
  7. Choosing a Bokken Tsuba and Stopper Set for Training
  8. Cotton vs Polyester Hakama Which Is Easier to Maintain
  9. Choosing Your First Bokken for Serious Samurai Training
  10. Are Engraved Bokken Good Gifts and Can You Train With Them