Japanese symbol for “write”
書く
かく
Romaji: kaku
to write; to compose; to pen
In Japanese, write is 書く, read かく (kaku).
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
- v5k, vt to write; to compose; to pen
- v5k, vt to draw; to paint
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “write”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 作る | つくる tsukuru | to draw up (a document); to make out; to prepare |
| 認める | したためる shitatameru | to write (e.g. a letter); to draw up (a document); to take down (e.g. notes) |
| 詠む | よむ yomu | to compose (a Japanese poem); to write; to use as the theme of a poem |
| 書き下ろす | かきおろす kakiorosu | to write (a new novel, play, song, etc.); to write (an original work for a specific purpose); to write specially (for) |
| 書き込む | かきこむ kakikomu | to write (data); to flash |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 文書 | ぶんしょ bunsho | document; writing; letter |
| 書籍 | しょせき shoseki | book; publication |
| 書類 | しょるい shorui | document; papers |
| 図書館 | としょかん toshokan | library |
| 書店 | しょてん shoten | bookshop; bookstore |
| 教科書 | きょうかしょ kyoukasho | textbook; coursebook; schoolbook |
See also: Chinese symbol for “write”.
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.