Have you ever wondered how to write or say the word Peace in Japanese? Many search for this word out of curiosity or simply to get a Tattoo. In this article, we will share different ways and forms to say Peace in Japanese.
The main word for Peace in Japanese is Heiwa [平和] which can also mean harmony. It can mean something like having a gentle temperament; polite; peaceful and calm. What are the secrets behind these ideograms that make up Heiwa?
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Mistakes when Tattooing Peace in Ideograms
Many mistakenly tattoo ideograms thinking they literally mean peace. I myself found images of certain ideograms translated as peace while searching on Google, but they do not mean that in either Japanese or Chinese.
In fact, the two ideograms [平] and [和] make up the word peace, and both separately convey the idea of peace. But mistakenly people present the word as if it only meant peace, ignoring other meanings.
It is common to tattoo just one ideogram instead of the whole word, so which of these ideograms should you tattoo? It’s hard to answer this question since both mean Peace. By understanding the meaning of these ideograms, you will arrive at the correct option.
Peace in Japanese Style [和]
The ideogram [和] that many tattoo thinking it primarily means peace, actually refers to Japan. It is the ancient name of Japan, and this ideogram is constantly used to refer to Japanese and traditional things.
The ideogram wa [和] was chosen to replace [倭] around 707 due to the etymology of Yamato, the ancient name of Japan. The ideogram can also be used in the sense of making peace or reconciling, entering into harmony.
The sense of peace in the ideogram [和] came to replace the ideogram nodo [閑] which means calm, peaceful, and tranquil. In China and Korea, this ideogram [和] also conveys the idea of peace, but it is not the main ideogram to compose this meaning.
As the ideogram [和] is used to refer to traditional Japanese things such as art, music, and objects. It may be difficult to find some words related to peace, but we will try to show them below:
| Kanji | Romaji | Meaning |
| 和平 | wahei | peace |
| 和やか | nagoyaka | light; calm; kind; harmonious; peaceful |
| 和解 | wakai | reconciliation; rapprochement; compromise; conciliation |
| 和議 | wagi | peace conference; peace negotiation |
| 和む | nagomu | to be softened; to calm down |
| 和睦 | waboku | reconciliation; peace; rapprochement |
| 和戦 | wazen | war and peace; peace |
| 和約 | wayaku | peace agreement |
| 和楽 | waraku | peace and harmony |
| 和を結ぶ | wawomusubi | to make peace |
Ideogram of Peace in Japanese [平]
You definitely should not tattoo this ideogram [平]. Although it is present in the word Peace, and is constantly translated as peace, its true meaning is something flat, common, mediocre, a person of low status, a freshman or novice.
Many end up using this ideogram because it is the first to compose the word peace in Japanese Heiwa [平和]. This ideogram is very generic and makes up various words that are not related to peace.
Despite this, hei [平] is present in many words with peace, including the period called Heian Period of Peace in Japan.
See below some words related to peace that use the ideogram [平]:
| Kanji | Romaji | Meaning |
| 平安 | heian | Japanese Period; peace; tranquility |
| 平等 | byoudou | equality; impartiality; uniformity |
| 平均 | heikin | average; balance; equilibrium |
| 平ら | taira | calm; tranquil; placid; composed; stable; relaxed |
| 平気 | heiki | coldness; calm; composure; carefreeness |
| 平静 | heisei | calm; serenity; tranquility |
| 太平 | taihei | peace; tranquility |
| 昌平 | shouhei | peace; tranquility |
Peace in Chinese [安]
Although peace in Chinese is also Hépíng [平和], another common ideogram used in the Chinese language to refer to peace is [安]. It conveys the idea of calm, peaceful, quiet, and tranquil. It also conveys the sense of comfortable; at ease; safe and satisfied.
In the Japanese language, [安] conveys the idea of something cheap. But the ideogram can make up some words with the sense of relaxing, cheap, low, calm, rested, content, and peaceful. Even the adjective yasui [安い] conveys this idea.
The word anzen [安全] conveys the idea of safety. The word anshin [安心] means peace of mind or relief. See below some words in Japanese related to Peace that have the Chinese ideogram [安]:
| Kanji | Romaji | Meaning |
| 安易 | an-i | easy; simple |
| 安静 | ansei | rest; quiet |
| 安否 | anpi | safety; well-being |
| 安らか | yasuraka | peaceful; tranquil; calm |
| 安心感 | anshinkan | sense of security |
| 安泰 | antai | Peace; safety; tranquility |
| 安穏 | annon | Peace; quiet; tranquility |
| 安寧 | annei | peace (public); stability; tranquility |
Other Ways to Say Peace in Japanese and Related
There are other Japanese words to refer to peace, harmony, and tranquility. Some are adjectives, others even verbs, let’s see below a list of other ways to say peace in Japanese and related words.
| kanji | romaji | meaning |
| 穆穆 | bokuboku | tranquil and kind; humble and dignified |
| 無事 | buji | safety; Peace; quietness |
| 円満 | anman | harmonious; peaceful; happy |
| 楽 | raku | comfort; ease; relief; at peace; relaxation |
| ピース | peesu | from English peace |
| 仲直り | nakanaori | reconciliation; making peace |
| 休意 | kyuui | peace; tranquility |
Other ideograms can convey the idea of peace like [治] which means to reign, to be at peace, and to calm down. We believe that the best ideogram to tattoo is [和] or [安], but it is up to you to decide on an ideogram or word.
Peace Phrases in Japanese
I hope this article has helped you understand the different ways to say peace in Japanese. To conclude the article, let’s leave some phrases about peace in Japanese:
ご冥福をお祈りします。 Gomeifuku wo inorishimasu
May your soul rest in peace.
和平会談は再度失敗した. waheikaidan wa saidoshiipai
The peace talks have failed again.
平和はとても大切です。 Heiwa wa totemo taisetsudesu
Peace is very important
彼らは和睦を求めた。 karera wa waiboku wo motometa
They sought peace
日本はとても平和だ Nihon wa totemo Heiwa da
Japan is very peaceful
私の望むのは安らぎと静けさだけです。 Watashi no nozo no wa yasuragi to shizuke sadake desu
All I want is peace and tranquility.
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