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Goto 後藤 – Japanese surname
Goto (後藤) is read ごとう and has 3 syllables. It is a family name. Written as 後藤, the characters mean: behind + wisteria. This reading can be written with at least 36 different kanji combinations (the 6 most common are shown below), with 12 to 27 strokes in total.
About the name Goto
Goto (後藤) joins 後, behind, with 藤, wisteria. It is a long-standing name that also exists as the Goto Islands off Nagasaki.
How to write Goto in Japanese
| Kanji | Reading | Literal meaning | Strokes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 後藤 | ごとう | behind + wisteria | 27 |
| 後東 | ごとう | behind + east | 17 |
| 五東 | ごとう | five + east | 12 |
| 後当 | ごとう | behind + hit | 15 |
| 後島 | ごとう | behind + island | 19 |
| 五島 | ごとう | five + island | 14 |
Meanings are literal translations of each kanji. Names are often chosen for sound, so the intended meaning can differ.
The kanji in Goto
Goto in different scripts
| Romaji | Goto |
|---|---|
| Hiragana | ごとう |
| Katakana | ゴトウ |
| Kanji (most common) | 後藤 |
Full name examples
- Ayumi Goto (Japanese order: 後藤歩美, ごとう あゆみ)
- Yurina Goto (Japanese order: 後藤百合奈, ごとう ゆりな)
- Yuki Goto (Japanese order: 後藤結城, ごとう ゆうき)
How to pronounce Goto
Break it into 2 parts: go · to. Japanese has no stressed syllables like English, so say each part with the same length and the same weight. The 3 sound units are written ごとう.
Questions about Goto
What does Goto mean in Japanese?
Goto has no single fixed meaning: it depends on the kanji. The most common spelling, 後藤, combines these meanings: behind + wisteria. Other spellings include 後東 (behind + east), 五東 (five + east), 後当 (behind + hit).
How do you write Goto in kanji?
The most common way is 後藤 (ごとう). It can also be written 後東, 五東, 後当, 後島, 五島.
How do you write Goto in katakana?
Goto is ゴトウ in katakana and ごとう in hiragana.
How do you pronounce Goto?
Goto is read ごとう and has 3 syllables (morae).
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Themes: Nature
Other surnames that use 後
後: behind, back, later
Similar last names by meaning
Name data: JMnedict and KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Filtered, regrouped and annotated by NihonNames.