Japanese symbol for “underground”
地下
ちか
Romaji: chika
underground; below the ground
In Japanese, underground is 地下, read ちか (chika).
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 underground; below the ground
- n world of the dead; the grave
- adj-no, n underground (activities, movement, etc.); secret; illegal; in hiding
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “underground”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 地下鉄 | ちかてつ chikatetsu | subway; metro; underground (railway) |
| 地中 | ちちゅう chichuu | in the ground; in the earth; underground |
| アングラ | アングラ angura | underground (film, theater, etc.); unconventional; alternative |
| 土中 | どちゅう dochuu | in the earth; in the ground; underground |
| アンダーグラウンド | アンダーグラウンド andaaguraundo | underground (film, theater, etc.); unconventional; alternative |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 地域 | ちいき chiiki | area; region; district |
| 地球 | ちきゅう chikyuu | Earth; the globe |
| 地方 | ちほう chihou | district; region; area |
| 地元 | じもと jimoto | home area; home town |
| 地震 | じしん jishin | earthquake |
| 土地 | とち tochi | plot of land; lot; soil |
| 以下 | いか ika | not exceeding ...; not more than ...; ... and under |
| 低下 | ていか teika | fall; decline; lowering |
See also: Chinese symbol for “underground”.
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.