竜王
ryūō
The English phrase "dragon king" is translated into Japanese as 竜王 (ryūō).
The term 竜王 refers to a mythical deity or powerful spirit who rules over the oceans and the dragons. It is used in both Buddhist mythology and traditional Japanese folklore to describe a deity of the sea.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 竜 (ryū), meaning dragon and 王 (ō), meaning king.
How do you pronounce it?
ryūō
Did you know?
- While 竜王 is a deity, the term is also used in the professional world of Shogi, the Japanese version of chess, to denote a high rank of mastery.
- Japanese mythology often mentions the 竜宮, or the 'dragon palace', which is the underwater kingdom where the 竜王 resides. Time moves differently there, meaning a few days in the palace can equal years on land.
- While 'dragon' in English often implies a fire-breathing monster, the 竜王 represents water and wisdom. In Japan, the dragon is viewed as a benevolent bringer of prosperity rather than a beast to be slain.
Examples in context
- 「龍王様、どうぞこの船を救ってください！」Dragon King, please save this ship!
- 「あの海の竜が、実は龍王だって知ってる？」Did you know that sea dragon is actually the Dragon King?
- 竜王は海の底に住んでいる。Ryūō wa umi no soko ni sunde iru.The dragon king lives at the bottom of the sea.
- 伝説では竜王が嵐を操るとされている。Densetsu de wa Ryūō ga arashi o ayatsuru to sarete iru.In legend, it is said that the dragon king controls the storms.
- 古事記には竜王の物語が出てくる。Kojiki ni wa Ryūō no monogatari ga detekuru.Stories of the dragon king appear in the Kojiki.
Example conversation
Two siblings are reading a book of Japanese mythology.
- 陽葵 Himariこの本には竜王の話が書いてあるよ。Kono hon ni wa Ryūō no hanashi ga kaite aru yo.This book has stories about the dragon king written in it.
- 陽太 Yota竜王は本当に強い神様なのかな？Ryūō wa hontō ni tsuyoi kamisama na no kana?I wonder if the dragon king is a truly powerful deity?
- 陽葵 Himariきっと、海を支配するすごい存在だよ。Kitto, umi o shihai suru sugoi sonzai da yo.Surely, he is a great being who rules the ocean.
- 陽太 Yota陽葵姉ちゃん、もっと続きを読んで！Himari neechan, motto tsuzuki o yonde!Himari, please read more of the continuation!
