Home / Last names / Sato
Sato 佐藤 – Japanese surname
Sato (佐藤) is read さとう and has 3 syllables. It is a family name. Written as 佐藤, the characters mean: assistant + wisteria. This reading can be written with at least 25 different kanji combinations (the 6 most common are shown below), with 13 to 25 strokes in total.
About the name Sato
Sato (佐藤) is the most common surname in Japan. 佐 means to assist and 藤 means wisteria, and the name is often linked to the Fujiwara family line.
How to write Sato in Japanese
| Kanji | Reading | Literal meaning | Strokes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 佐藤 | さとう | assistant + wisteria | 25 |
| 佐東 | さとう | assistant + east | 15 |
| 佐当 | さとう | assistant + hit | 13 |
| 左東 | さとう | left + east | 13 |
| 佐島 | さとう | assistant + island | 17 |
| 坂東 | さとう | slope + east | 15 |
Meanings are literal translations of each kanji. Names are often chosen for sound, so the intended meaning can differ.
The kanji in Sato
Sato in different scripts
| Romaji | Sato |
|---|---|
| Hiragana | さとう |
| Katakana | サトウ |
| Kanji (most common) | 佐藤 |
Full name examples
- Ayumi Sato (Japanese order: 佐藤歩美, さとう あゆみ)
- Yurina Sato (Japanese order: 佐藤百合奈, さとう ゆりな)
- Yuki Sato (Japanese order: 佐藤結城, さとう ゆうき)
How to pronounce Sato
Break it into 2 parts: sa · 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 さとう.
Questions about Sato
What does Sato mean in Japanese?
Sato has no single fixed meaning: it depends on the kanji. The most common spelling, 佐藤, combines these meanings: assistant + wisteria. Other spellings include 佐東 (assistant + east), 佐当 (assistant + hit), 左東 (left + east).
How do you write Sato in kanji?
The most common way is 佐藤 (さとう). It can also be written 佐東, 佐当, 左東, 佐島, 坂東.
How do you write Sato in katakana?
Sato is サトウ in katakana and さとう in hiragana.
How do you pronounce Sato?
Sato is read さとう and has 3 syllables (morae).
Share: XFacebookPinterestRedditWhatsApp
Themes: Nature
Other surnames that use 佐
佐: assistant, help
Names with a similar sound
Similar last names by meaning
Name data: JMnedict and KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Filtered, regrouped and annotated by NihonNames.