Japanese Symbol for
龍ryū
dragon · naga · divine serpent
Readings
Meaning
Dragon. 龍 is the traditional form; 竜 is the modern simplified version. Unlike the fearsome Western dragon, Japanese 龍 are benevolent water deities — bringers of rain, guardians of rivers and seas.
Example words
龍神
ryūjin
dragon god, sea deity
竜巻
tatsumaki
tornado (dragon roll)
龍宮
ryūgū
dragon palace (undersea)
ドラゴン
doragon
dragon (loanword)
昇龍
shōryū
rising dragon (tattoo motif)
龍田揚げ
tatsuta-age
Japanese fried chicken (named after Dragon River)
In Japanese mythology, 龍神 (Ryūjin) is the dragon god of the sea who lives in the undersea palace 龍宮 (Ryūgū). Japanese dragons are serpentine and associated with water, storms, and imperial power — not fire and destruction like Western dragons. The dragon is one of the twelve animals of the East Asian zodiac (辰年, tatsu-doshi).
Hiragana and katakana are the keys to reading Japanese. Our free trainers get them locked in fast.