Japanese symbol for “go”

囲碁

いご

Romaji: igo

go (board game)

In Japanese, go is 囲碁, read いご (igo).

Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.

Meanings

n go (board game)

Kanji and stroke order

囲

surround, besiege, store

on: イ
kun: かこ.む、かこ.う、かこ.い

7 strokes · JLPT 2

碁

on: ゴ

13 strokes · JLPT 1

Other Japanese words for “go”

Word	Reading	Meaning
行く	いく iku	to go; to move (towards); to head (towards)
言う	いう iu	to go (e.g. "the alarm went ping"); to make a noise
碁	ご go	go (board game)
参る	まいる mairu	to go; to come
走る	はしる hashiru	to go (e.g. bad, to extremes); to become; to turn

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
雰囲気	ふんいき fun'iki	atmosphere; mood; ambience
範囲	はんい han'i	extent; scope; sphere
周囲	しゅうい shuui	surroundings; environs
包囲	ほうい houi	siege; encirclement; envelopment
囲む	かこむ kakomu	to surround; to encircle; to enclose
碁盤	ごばん goban	Go board
碁石	ごいし goishi	go stone; go piece
碁聖	ごせい gosei	Gosei (professional go title)