Japanese symbol for “workings”
仕組み
しくみ
Romaji: shikumi
structure; construction; arrangement; contrivance
In Japanese, workings is 仕組み, read しくみ (shikumi).
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 structure; construction; arrangement; contrivance; mechanism; workings
- n plan; plot; contrivance
Written forms: 仕組み、仕組. Readings: しくみ.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “workings”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 働き | はたらき hataraki | action; activity; workings |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 仕事 | しごと shigoto | work; job; labor |
| 仕方 | しかた shikata | way; method; means |
| 仕上げ | しあげ shiage | finish; finishing; finishing touches |
| 奉仕 | ほうし houshi | service; ministry; attendance |
| 仕様 | しよう shiyou | way; method; means |
| 番組 | ばんぐみ bangumi | program (e.g. TV); programme |
| 組織 | そしき soshiki | organization; organisation; formation |
| 組合 | くみあい kumiai | association; union; guild |
See also: Chinese symbol for “workings”.
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.