Japanese symbol for “issue”
号
ごう
Romaji: gou
number; edition; make; model
In Japanese, issue is 号, read ごう (gou).
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, n-suf number; edition; make; model; issue; part of that group
- n, n-suf sobriquet; pen-name
- n, n-suf size (of printing types, canvases, knitting needles, etc.)
- suf suffix attached to names of ships, trains, airplanes, etc.
Written forms: 号、號. Readings: ごう.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “issue”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 発行 | はっこう hakkou | publication (of a newspaper, magazine, book, etc.); issue |
| 課題 | かだい kadai | subject; theme; issue |
| 刊行 | かんこう kankou | publication; issue |
| 案件 | あんけん anken | matter (to discuss); item (on the agenda); issue |
| 問題 | もんだい mondai | problem (e.g. societal, political); question; issue |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 番号 | ばんごう bangou | number; series of digits |
| 信号 | しんごう shingou | signal; signalling; signaling |
| 記号 | きごう kigou | sign; symbol; mark |
| 暗号 | あんごう angou | code; password; cipher |
| 号泣 | ごうきゅう goukyuu | crying loudly; bawling; wailing |
| 元号 | げんごう gengou | name of an imperial era (e.g. Heisei, Shōwa); Japanese era name |
See also: Chinese symbol for “issue”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.