Home / Last names / Yoshikawa

Yoshikawa 四川 – Japanese surname

Yoshikawa (四川) is read よしかわ and has 4 syllables. It is a family name. Written as 四川, the characters mean: four + stream. This reading can be written with at least 17 different kanji combinations (the 6 most common are shown below), with 8 to 16 strokes in total.

About the name Yoshikawa

Yoshikawa (吉川) means lucky river. The novelist Eiji Yoshikawa is a known bearer.

How to write Yoshikawa in Japanese

Kanji	Reading	Literal meaning	Strokes
四川	よしかわ	four + stream	8
由川	よしかわ	wherefore + stream	8
義川	よしかわ	righteousness + stream	16
好川	よしかわ	fond + stream	9
美川	よしかわ	beauty + stream	12
良川	よしかわ	good + stream	10

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

The kanji in Yoshikawa

四

four

5 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 1

On: シ Kun: よ、よっ、よん

川

stream, river, river or three-stroke river radical

3 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 1

On: セン Kun: かわ

由

wherefore, a reason

5 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 3

On: ユ、ユウ、ユイ Kun: よし、よ

義

righteousness, justice, morality, honor

13 strokes, taught in elementary school, grade 5

On: ギ

Yoshikawa in different scripts

Romaji	Yoshikawa
Hiragana	よしかわ
Katakana	ヨシカワ
Kanji (most common)	四川

Full name examples

Ayumi Yoshikawa (Japanese order: 四川歩美, よしかわあゆみ)
Yurina Yoshikawa (Japanese order: 四川百合奈, よしかわゆりな)
Yuki Yoshikawa (Japanese order: 四川結城, よしかわゆうき)

How to pronounce Yoshikawa

Break it into 4 parts: yo · shi · 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 よしかわ.

Questions about Yoshikawa

What does Yoshikawa mean in Japanese?

Yoshikawa has no single fixed meaning: it depends on the kanji. The most common spelling, 四川, combines these meanings: four + stream. Other spellings include 由川 (wherefore + stream), 義川 (righteousness + stream), 好川 (fond + stream).

How do you write Yoshikawa in kanji?

The most common way is 四川 (よしかわ). It can also be written 由川, 義川, 好川, 美川, 良川.

How do you write Yoshikawa in katakana?

Yoshikawa is ヨシカワ in katakana and よしかわ in hiragana.

How do you pronounce Yoshikawa?

Yoshikawa is read よしかわ and has 4 syllables (morae).

Share: X Facebook Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp

Other surnames that use 四

四: four

Aisaki 四十 Shida 四田 Shido 四道 Shikata 四方 Shimoto 四本 Shinohara 四原 Shishikura 四倉 Yomoto 四本 Yoshioka 四岡 Yoshiyama 四山

Names with a similar sound

Yoshiba 吉場 Yoshida 吉田 Yoshihara 由原 Yoshii 吉井 Yoshikata 能方 Yoshikura 吉蔵 Yoshima 要島 Yoshimi 吉見 Yoshimoto 吉本 Yoshimura 能村