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Kikawa 木川 – Japanese surname

Kikawa (木川) is read きかわ and has 3 syllables. It is a family name. Written as 木川, the characters mean: tree + stream. This reading can be written with at least 11 different kanji combinations (the 6 most common are shown below), with 7 to 19 strokes in total.

How to write Kikawa in Japanese

Kanji	Reading	Literal meaning	Strokes
木川	きかわ	tree + stream	7
寄川	きかわ	draw near + stream	14
吉川	きかわ	good luck + stream	9
紀川	きかわ	chronicle + stream	12
木河	きかわ	tree + river	12
樹川	きかわ	timber + stream	19

Meanings are literal translations of each kanji. Names are often chosen for sound, so the intended meaning can differ.

The kanji in Kikawa

木

tree, wood

4 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 1

On: ボク、モク Kun: き、こ

川

stream, river, river or three-stroke river radical

3 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 1

On: セン Kun: かわ

寄

draw near, stop in, bring near, gather

11 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 5

On: キ Kun: よ

吉

good luck, joy, congratulations

6 strokes, taught in secondary school

On: キチ、キツ Kun: よし

Kikawa in different scripts

Romaji	Kikawa
Hiragana	きかわ
Katakana	キカワ
Kanji (most common)	木川

Full name examples

Ayumi Kikawa (Japanese order: 木川歩美, きかわあゆみ)
Yurina Kikawa (Japanese order: 木川百合奈, きかわゆりな)
Yuki Kikawa (Japanese order: 木川結城, きかわゆうき)

How to pronounce Kikawa

Break it into 3 parts: ki · ka · wa. 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 きかわ.

Questions about Kikawa

What does Kikawa mean in Japanese?

Kikawa has no single fixed meaning: it depends on the kanji. The most common spelling, 木川, combines these meanings: tree + stream. Other spellings include 寄川 (draw near + stream), 吉川 (good luck + stream), 紀川 (chronicle + stream).

How do you write Kikawa in kanji?

The most common way is 木川 (きかわ). It can also be written 寄川, 吉川, 紀川, 木河, 樹川.

How do you write Kikawa in katakana?

Kikawa is キカワ in katakana and きかわ in hiragana.

How do you pronounce Kikawa?

Kikawa is read きかわ and has 3 syllables (morae).

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Themes: Nature Luck and joy

Other surnames that use 木

木: tree, wood

Akagi 明木 Akaki 明木 Amagi 天木 Amaki 味木 Aoki 青木 Araki 新木 Hoki 法木 Igi 行木 Itsuki 五木 Kiba 木場 Kibe 木部 Kida 木田

Names with a similar sound

Kikuchi 木口

Similar last names by meaning

Agata 安方 Aida 会田 Aijima 会島 Aikawa 会川 Aishima 会島 Akagi 明木 Akaki 明木 Akimoto 明元