How to say "sign" in Japanese

• マークJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounCovers a visible mark, symbol or emblem, such as a brand logo or a check mark; as 'sign' it means a graphic mark rather than an indication or a posted signboard.
  私はカレンダーの誕生日たんじょうびに赤あかいマークをつけた。↗

  I put a red mark on the calendar for my birthday.
• 目印めじるしJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounA mark you rely on to find or recognize something quickly — a landmark such as a tall tree or a distinctive building that shows you where a place is.
  彼女かのじょは自分じぶんの傘かさに赤あかいリボンで目印めじるしを付つけた。↗

  She put a red ribbon on her umbrella as a mark.
• しるしJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounA sign in the sense of an indication or token: evidence that something is the case, or a small keepsake or gift given as a token of feeling.
  発音はつおんできない語ごに印しるしをつけなさい。↗

  Mark the words which you cannot pronounce.
• 看板かんばんJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounThe physical, posted sense of 'sign': a signboard or billboard displayed outside a shop, restaurant or venue to advertise it or show its name.
  日光にっこうで看板かんばんの文字もじがあせた。↗

  The sun had faded the lettering on the sign.
• 記号きごうJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounA sign as an abstract symbol within a system of notation: mathematical signs such as plus and minus, punctuation marks, or symbols on maps and diagrams.
  ＆という記号きごうは、ａｎｄを指さす。↗

  The sign '&' stands for 'and'.

Use 「マーク」 for a visible mark or logo, 目印 for a landmark used to find something, 「しるし」 for a token or indication, 看板 for a physical signboard, and 記号 for abstract symbols such as mathematical signs.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• マークmark
• 目印めじるしmark (for quick identification or recognition)
• しるしmark
• 看板かんばんsignboard
• 記号きごうsign
• 合図あいずsign
• 兆候ちょうこうsign
• 標識ひょうしきsign
• 符号ふごうsign
• 兆しきざしsign
• 気配けはいindication
• 証あかしproof
• 前兆ぜんちょうomen
• アテストto attest (a scorecard)
• 跡あとtrace
• 痕跡こんせきtrace
• 気けsign
• 徴しるしsign
• 予兆よちょうomen
• 幸先さいさきsign (of things to come)
• 気色けしきsign
• 徴ちょうsign
• 気振りけぶりsign
• シーニュsign
• 掛け札かけふだsign
• 徴証ちょうしょうsign
• 表事ひょうじsign
• 標示板ひょうじばんsign (e.g. roadside, in park, etc.)
• 署するしょするto sign (one's signature)
• っ気っけsign
• 手真似てまねgesture
• 標示ひょうじmark
• 符丁ふちょうsymbol
• 前表ぜんぴょうomen
• ブロックサインsignal
• 表号ひょうごうsymbol
• 先触れさきぶれpreliminary announcement
• 祥しょうomen (usu. good)
• 様子ようすsign
• サインsign
• 兆ちょうsign
• 札ふだsign
• 目標もくひょうmark
• 息吹いぶきsign (of something new and fresh)
• 前触れまえぶれherald
• 符ふsign
• おしるしmark