Details
Description
The dragon - symbol of power, wisdom, and good fortune in East Asian culture
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Pictograph of a divine beast that summons clouds and brings rain
Symbolism
Symbol of the emperor, power and prosperity
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Playing the Yakuza (Like a Dragon) game
- — A foreigner wanting a dragon tattoo
- — Watching dragon dances in Chinatown
- — Discussing zodiac with someone born in the Year of the Dragon
Component Breakdown
Stand + moon + self + hair
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
龍頭蛇尾
りゅうとうだび
Dragon head, snake tail; Starting strong but ending weak
画竜点睛
がりょうてんせい
Adding eyes to a painted dragon; The finishing touch that completes everything
龍驤虎視
りゅうじょうこし
Dragon soaring, tiger watching; Majestic bearing with ambitions for greatness
臥龍鳳雛
がりょうほうすう
Hidden dragon and young phoenix; Outstanding talent yet to be discovered
Proverbs & Idioms
龍の落とし子
りゅうのおとしご
Child of the dragon
Seahorse; or an exceptional descendant
Anime & Manga
ドラゴンボール
Dragon Ball
Story where Shenron the dragon grants wishes
ドラゴンクエスト
Dragon Quest
Adventures of heroes defeating dragons
Dr.STONE 龍水
Dr. STONE Special Episode – RYUSUI
A well-known work with 龍 in its Japanese title.
九龍ジェネリックロマンス
KOWLOON GENERIC ROMANCE
A well-known work with 龍 in its Japanese title.
龍ヶ嬢七々々の埋蔵金
Nanana's Buried Treasure
A well-known work with 龍 in its Japanese title.
Games
龍が如く
Yakuza / Like a Dragon(2005)
Developer: Sega
Yakuza game with 'Dragon' in the title
View on Amazon →モンスターハンター
Monster Hunter(2004)
Developer: Capcom
Features powerful monsters called Elder Dragons
View on Amazon →Related Figures & Stories
坂本龍馬
(さかもとりょうま)Bakumatsu patriot with 'dragon' in his name
Bakumatsu patriot who mediated the Satsuma-Choshu Alliance and contributed to Japan's modernization
李小龍（ブルース・リー）
(りしょうりゅう)Legendary martial artist with 'Little Dragon' as his name
Hong Kong martial artist and actor, world-famous for kung fu films
斎藤義龍
Name contains 龍
Saitō Yoshitatsu or Toki Yoshitatsu was a Japanese samurai and daimyō during the Sengoku period.
Wikipedia柳成龍
Name contains 龍
Yu Sŏngnyong , also known as Ryu Sŏngnyong , was a scholar-official of the Joseon period of Korea.
Wikipedia礒田湖龍斎
Name contains 龍
Isoda Koryūsai was a Japanese ukiyo-e print designer and painter active from 1769 to 1790.
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 龍 mean in Japanese?
龍 means dragon. The dragon - symbol of power, wisdom, and good fortune in East Asian culture
How do you read 龍?
On'yomi: リュウ、リョウ (RYU, RYO). Kun'yomi: たつ (tatsu).
How many strokes does 龍 have?
龍 has 16 strokes. Its radical is 龍 (dragon).
Is 龍 a good kanji for a tattoo?
龍 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means dragon. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.