Japanese symbol for “naga”
竜
りゅう
Romaji: ryuu
dragon (esp. a Chinese dragon)
In Japanese, naga is 竜, read りゅう (ryuu).
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 dragon (esp. a Chinese dragon)
- n naga; semi-divine human-cobra chimera in Hindu and Buddhist mythology
- n promoted rook (shogi)
Written forms: 竜、龍. Readings: りゅう、たつ、りょう.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “naga”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 竜神 | りゅうじん ryuujin | naga |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 恐竜 | きょうりゅう kyouryuu | dinosaur |
| 竜巻 | たつまき tatsumaki | tornado; whirlwind; waterspout |
| 竜王 | りゅうおう ryuuou | Dragon King |
| 登竜門 | とうりゅうもん touryuumon | gateway to success |
| 竜宮 | りゅうぐう ryuuguu | Palace of the Dragon King; palace from the story of Urashima Tarō (said to be located at the bottom of the sea) |
| 竜馬 | りゅうめ ryuume | splendid horse |
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.