Japanese symbol for “wharf”
桟橋
さんばし
Romaji: sanbashi
wharf; bridge; jetty; pier
In Japanese, wharf is 桟橋, read さんばし (sanbashi).
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 wharf; bridge; jetty; pier
Written forms: 桟橋、棧橋. Readings: さんばし、さんきょう.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “wharf”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 波止場 | はとば hatoba | wharf; quay; landing-stage |
| 乗り場 | のりば noriba | place for boarding vehicles; bus stop; bus terminal |
| 岸壁 | がんぺき ganpeki | quay; wharf; jetty |
| 埠頭 | ふとう futou | pier; wharf; quay |
| 船場 | ふなば funaba | wharf; quay; dock |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 桟敷 | さじき sajiki | dress circle (of a theatre); (first) balcony; box |
| 桟道 | さんどう sandou | plank path (on a steep mountainside, cliff face, etc.); walkway |
| 天井桟敷 | てんじょうさじき tenjousajiki | gallery (in a theatre); upper gallery; cheap seats |
| 浮き桟橋 | うきさんばし ukisanbashi | floating pier |
| 桟俵 | さんだわら sandawara | straw lid covering either end of a rice container |
| 船橋 | ふなばし funabashi | pontoon bridge; floating bridge |
| 新橋 | しんばし shinbashi | Shinbashi (Tokyo) |
| 石橋 | いしばし ishibashi | stone bridge |
See also: Chinese symbol for “wharf”.
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.