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Oikawa 生川 – Japanese surname

Oikawa (生川) is read おいかわ and has 4 syllables. It is a family name. Written as 生川, the characters mean: life + stream. This reading can be written with at least 13 different kanji combinations (the 6 most common are shown below), with 6 to 18 strokes in total.

How to write Oikawa in Japanese

Kanji	Reading	Literal meaning	Strokes
生川	おいかわ	life + stream	8
追川	おいかわ	chase + stream	12
請川	おいかわ	solicit + stream	18
及川	おいかわ	reach out + stream	6
老川	おいかわ	old man + stream	9
追河	おいかわ	chase + river	17

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

The kanji in Oikawa

生

life, genuine, birth

5 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 1

On: セイ、ショウ Kun: い、う、うま

川

stream, river, river or three-stroke river radical

3 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 1

On: セン Kun: かわ

追

chase, drive away, follow, pursue

9 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 3

On: ツイ Kun: お

請

solicit, invite, ask

15 strokes, taught in secondary school

On: セイ、シン、ショウ Kun: こ、う

Oikawa in different scripts

Romaji	Oikawa
Hiragana	おいかわ
Katakana	オイカワ
Kanji (most common)	生川

Full name examples

Ayumi Oikawa (Japanese order: 生川歩美, おいかわあゆみ)
Yurina Oikawa (Japanese order: 生川百合奈, おいかわゆりな)
Yuki Oikawa (Japanese order: 生川結城, おいかわゆうき)

How to pronounce Oikawa

Break it into 3 parts: oi · ka · wa. Japanese has no stressed syllables like English, so say each part with the same length and the same weight. The 4 sound units are written おいかわ.

Questions about Oikawa

What does Oikawa mean in Japanese?

Oikawa has no single fixed meaning: it depends on the kanji. The most common spelling, 生川, combines these meanings: life + stream. Other spellings include 追川 (chase + stream), 請川 (solicit + stream), 及川 (reach out + stream).

How do you write Oikawa in kanji?

The most common way is 生川 (おいかわ). It can also be written 追川, 請川, 及川, 老川, 追河.

How do you write Oikawa in katakana?

Oikawa is オイカワ in katakana and おいかわ in hiragana.

How do you pronounce Oikawa?

Oikawa is read おいかわ and has 4 syllables (morae).

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Themes: Nature

Other surnames that use 生

生: life, genuine, birth

Amo 天生 Anjo 安生 Asai 朝生 Azami 生明 Doi 土生 Habu 土生 Hanyu 針生 Ide 生出 Ii 生井 Ikata 生方 Ikuo 生尾 Ikura 生浦

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 Amagai 天海