Home / Last names / Okawa

Okawa 大川 – Japanese surname

Okawa (大川) is read おおかわ and has 4 syllables. It is a family name. Written as 大川, the characters mean: large + stream. This reading can be written with at least 18 different kanji combinations (the 6 most common are shown below), with 6 to 16 strokes in total.

About the name Okawa

Okawa (大川) means big river.

How to write Okawa in Japanese

Kanji	Reading	Literal meaning	Strokes
大川	おおかわ	large + stream	6
大河	おおかわ	large + river	11
太川	おおかわ	plump + stream	7
大皮	おおかわ	large + pelt	8
太河	おおかわ	plump + river	12
大鼓	おおかわ	large + drum	16

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

The kanji in Okawa

大

large, big

3 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 1

On: ダイ、タイ Kun: おお

川

stream, river, river or three-stroke river radical

3 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 1

On: セン Kun: かわ

河

river

8 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 5

On: カ Kun: かわ

太

plump, thick, big around

4 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 2

On: タイ、タ Kun: ふと

Okawa in different scripts

Romaji	Okawa
Hiragana	おおかわ
Katakana	オオカワ
Kanji (most common)	大川

Full name examples

Ayumi Okawa (Japanese order: 大川歩美, おおかわあゆみ)
Yurina Okawa (Japanese order: 大川百合奈, おおかわゆりな)
Yuki Okawa (Japanese order: 大川結城, おおかわゆうき)

How to pronounce Okawa

Break it into 3 parts: o · 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 おおかわ.

Questions about Okawa

What does Okawa mean in Japanese?

Okawa has no single fixed meaning: it depends on the kanji. The most common spelling, 大川, combines these meanings: large + stream. Other spellings include 大河 (large + river), 太川 (plump + stream), 大皮 (large + pelt).

How do you write Okawa in kanji?

The most common way is 大川 (おおかわ). It can also be written 大河, 太川, 大皮, 太河, 大鼓.

How do you write Okawa in katakana?

Okawa is オオカワ in katakana and おおかわ in hiragana.

How do you pronounce Okawa?

Okawa is read おおかわ and has 4 syllables (morae).

Share: X Facebook Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp

Themes: Nature

Other surnames that use 大

大: large, big

Daito 大東 Oba 大庭 Obe 大部 Ochi 大地 Odai 大代 Odate 大立 Oe 大家 Ofuji 大藤 Oga 大加 Ogai 大海 Ogami 大上 Ogita 大来

Names with a similar sound

Oka 岡 Okabe 岡部 Okada 岡田 Okado 大門 Okami 大上 Okamoto 岡本 Okata 大方 Okatsu 大勝 Okazaki 岡崎

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