What is Japanese Symbols?
Japanese-Symbols.org is a free resource dedicated to the meanings, readings, and cultural stories behind Japanese writing. Whether you found us looking up the kanji for love, searching for the symbol for strength, or trying to figure out what a tattoo actually says — you've come to the right place.
We cover all three Japanese scripts: kanji (the logographic characters borrowed from Chinese), hiragana (the flowing native syllabary), and katakana (the angular script used for foreign words). Each one has a distinct role, and together they make Japanese one of the richest writing systems in the world.
What you'll find here
The site is built around three main areas:
- Kanji symbol pages — over 128 dedicated pages covering the most searched kanji, from love (愛) and strength (力) to dragon (龍) and wisdom (知恵). Each page explains the character's meaning, readings, and cultural context.
- Interactive trainers — free quiz games for hiragana and katakana that drill all 46 characters until they stick.
- Guides and articles — deeper dives into Japanese writing, culture, proverbs, greetings, and language learning on the blog.
Not sure where to start? If you're brand new to Japanese, the Alphabet page gives you the full hiragana and katakana charts side by side — a good foundation before exploring kanji.
Why we built this
Japanese writing is endlessly fascinating — and often misunderstood. Kanji that look similar can mean very different things. A word that seems straightforward in English might not have a direct Japanese equivalent at all. And the internet is full of incorrect tattoo translations and oversimplified meanings.
Our goal is to give you accurate, well-explained information you can actually trust — whether you're a language learner, a tattoo researcher, a student, or just someone who finds Japanese culture genuinely interesting.
What's coming next
We're actively expanding the site. On the roadmap: more kanji reference pages, a Japanese phrase reference, deeper culture guides, and more interactive tools. The blog will be a regular home for articles, guides, and deep dives.
Welcome — we're glad you're here. 和 (wa) — harmony.
Ready to explore?
Try the trainers, look up a kanji symbol, or browse the latest guides.