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Yokawa 要川 – Japanese surname

Yokawa (要川) is read ようかわ and has 4 syllables. It is a family name. Written as 要川, the characters mean: need + stream. This reading can be written with at least 9 different kanji combinations (the 6 most common are shown below), with 6 to 12 strokes in total.

How to write Yokawa in Japanese

Kanji	Reading	Literal meaning	Strokes
要川	ようかわ	need + stream	12
用川	ようかわ	utilize + stream	8
世川	よかわ	generation + stream	8
与川	よかわ	bestow + stream	6
余川	よかわ	too much + stream	10
吉川	よかわ	good luck + stream	9

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

The kanji in Yokawa

要

need, main point, essence, pivot

9 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 4

On: ヨウ Kun: い、かなめ

川

stream, river, river or three-stroke river radical

3 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 1

On: セン Kun: かわ

用

utilize, business, service, use

5 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 2

On: ヨウ Kun: もち

世

generation, world, society, public

5 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 3

On: セイ、セ、ソウ Kun: よ

Yokawa in different scripts

Romaji	Yokawa
Hiragana	ようかわ
Katakana	ヨウカワ
Kanji (most common)	要川

Full name examples

Ayumi Yokawa (Japanese order: 要川歩美, ようかわあゆみ)
Yurina Yokawa (Japanese order: 要川百合奈, ようかわゆりな)
Yuki Yokawa (Japanese order: 要川結城, ようかわゆうき)

How to pronounce Yokawa

Break it into 3 parts: yo · 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 ようかわ.

Questions about Yokawa

What does Yokawa mean in Japanese?

Yokawa has no single fixed meaning: it depends on the kanji. The most common spelling, 要川, combines these meanings: need + stream. Other spellings include 用川 (utilize + stream), 世川 (generation + stream), 与川 (bestow + stream).

How do you write Yokawa in kanji?

The most common way is 要川 (ようかわ). It can also be written 用川, 世川, 与川, 余川, 吉川.

How do you write Yokawa in katakana?

Yokawa is ヨウカワ in katakana and ようかわ in hiragana.

How do you pronounce Yokawa?

Yokawa is read ようかわ and has 4 syllables (morae).

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Themes: Luck and joy

Other surnames that use 要

要: need, main point, essence

Yoshima 要島

Names with a similar sound

Yokoyama 横山

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