矢印
Meaning in Englishdirecting arrow
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Word context
What it means
What does 矢印 (yajirushi) mean? It means an arrow mark or arrow symbol used to indicate direction, point to items, show flow or movement, or connect steps; as a visual device it functions as a concise directional cue in signs, diagrams, maps, and digital interfaces.
Main meanings
- 1. A graphical pointer in user interfaces and cursors that signals clickable elements or navigation directions.
- 2. A diagrammatic connector showing flow, sequence, or cause-and-effect relationships in charts and technical drawings.
- 3. A typographic or mathematical symbol used to denote mapping, implication, or transformation in formal notation.
- 4. A signage element on roads and public spaces to direct pedestrian and vehicle movement.
How to use it
Used broadly in physical and digital contexts: on road signs and building wayfinding to show direction, in manuals and assembly instructions to point parts or steps, in diagrams and flowcharts to indicate process or relationships, and in GUIs as cursor icons or navigation buttons; appropriate in both formal technical documents and everyday casual signage depending on style and formality of the presentation.
Variants and close terms
- 矢 (や, ya) — arrow (the projectile or shape)
- 矢印記号 (やじるしきごう, yajirushi kigou) — arrow symbol (emphasized as a glyph)
- 方向指示 (ほうこうしじ, houkou shiji) — direction indicator
- 左向き矢印 (ひだりむきやじるし, hidari-muki yajirushi) — left-pointing arrow; 右向き矢印 (みぎむきやじるし, migi-muki yajirushi) — right-pointing arrow
Composition
- 矢 (や, ya) — literally 'arrow', representing the projectile or pointed shape used for direction.
- 印 (しるし, shirushi) — 'mark', 'sign', or 'seal', indicating a visible sign or symbol; together they form the compound meaning 'arrow mark' or 'arrow symbol'.
Origin
Arrow-shaped marks have long existed in maps and manuscripts, but the modern use of standardized arrow symbols in Japanese public signage and printed materials grew with Western-style cartography and industrial printing from the late 19th century onward; their ubiquity expanded in the 20th century with road sign standardization and later with digital computing and character encoding (Unicode) that codified arrow glyphs.
Word class
noun (名詞)