Japanese symbol for “undoing”

取り返し

とりかえし

Romaji: torikaeshi

recovery; undoing; recall

In Japanese, undoing is 取り返し, read とりかえし (torikaeshi).

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 recovery; undoing; recall

Written forms: 取り返し、取返し. Readings: とりかえし.

Kanji and stroke order

取

take, fetch, take up

on: シュ
kun: と.る、と.り、と.り-、とり

8 strokes · JLPT 2

返

return, answer, fade

on: ヘン
kun: かえ.す、-かえ.す、かえ.る、-かえ.る

7 strokes · JLPT 2

Other Japanese words for “undoing”

Word	Reading	Meaning
帳消し	ちょうけし choukeshi	cancelling out (gains or losses); making even; making up (for)

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
取引	とりひき torihiki	transactions; dealings; business
買取	かいとり kaitori	purchase; buying; buying out
取得	しゅとく shutoku	obtaining (a qualification, right, object, etc.); acquisition (of land, property, etc.); gaining possession (of)
取る	とる toru	to take; to pick up; to grab
取材	しゅざい shuzai	gathering material (for an article, novel, etc.); collecting information; covering (an event, incident, etc.)
取締役	とりしまりやく torishimariyaku	company director; board member
返事	へんじ henji	reply; answer; response
繰り返す	くりかえす kurikaesu	to repeat; to do over again

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.