Japanese symbol for “warlike”

好戦的

こうせんてき

Romaji: kousenteki

belligerent; warlike

In Japanese, warlike is 好戦的, read こうせんてき (kousenteki).

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-na belligerent; warlike

Kanji and stroke order

好

fond, pleasing, like something

on: コウ
kun: この.む、す.く、よ.い、い.い

6 strokes · JLPT 3

戦

war, battle, match

on: セン
kun: いくさ、たたか.う、おのの.く、そよ.ぐ

13 strokes · JLPT 2

的

bull's eye, mark, target

on: テキ
kun: まと

8 strokes · JLPT 2

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
大好き	だいすき daisuki	liking very much; loving (something or someone); adoring
好み	このみ konomi	liking; taste; fancy
格好	かっこう kakkou	shape; form; figure
友好	ゆうこう yuukou	friendship
好意	こうい koui	kindness; favor; favour
好調	こうちょう kouchou	favourable; favorable; promising
戦争	せんそう sensou	war
戦い	たたかい tatakai	battle; war; fight
目的	もくてき mokuteki	purpose; goal; aim

See also: Chinese symbol for “warlike”.

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.