Meanings and Vocabulary of Dragon Ball in Japanese

Dragon Ball is one of the most successful anime and manga of all time. Every now and then, we come across terms that make some interesting references. In this article, we will make a list of Dragon Ball terms and their meanings, including meanings of names, techniques, and locations.

Let's start with the name of the anime "Dragon Ball," a reference to the dragon balls that are collected by the characters in the series. The dragon balls grant a wish when gathered and summoned by a user capable of reading them.

Read also: Japanese phrases from Dragon Ball Z

The meaning of Son Goku

"Son Goku" is the name of the main character in Dragon Ball. The name is written in Japanese as "孫悟空", which can be divided into three parts:

• "孫" (son) means "grandchild" in Japanese.
• "悟" (go) means "enlightened" or "understanding" in Japanese.
• "空" (kuu) means "sky" in Japanese.

Together, these parts form the name "Son Goku," which can be translated as "Heavenly Illuminated Grandson." Often, his name is translated as Monkey King.

The name "Son Goku" is a reference to the character Sun Wukong from the Chinese legend "Journey to the West." Sun Wukong is a monkey who gains magical abilities and is chosen as a protector by the monk Xuanzang. He is known for his strength, agility, and ability to transform into other forms.

Dragon Ball Vocabulary in Japanese

Series and Titles

• ドラゴンボール (Doragon Booru) - Dragon Balls, Dragon Ball.
• ドラゴンボールゼット (Doragon Booru Zetto) - Dragon Ball Z.
• ドラゴンボール超 (Doragon Booru Suupaa) - Dragon Ball Super. The kanji 超 is also read as ちょう (chou) and means "super".
• ドラゴンボール改 (Doragon Booru Kai) - Dragon Ball Kai. 改 (かい, kai) means "revision".
• ドラゴンボールジーティー (Doragon Booru Jii Tii) - Dragon Ball GT.

Characters and Creators

• 鳥山明 (Toriyama Akira) - Akira Toriyama (creator of Dragon Ball).
• 影山ヒロノブ (Kageyama Hironobu) - Hironobu Kageyama (singer of anime openings).

Terms Related to Tournaments

• 武道会 (Budoukai) - Martial Arts Meeting, Martial Arts Tournament, Fighting Tournament. "Budou" 武道 means "martial arts".
• 天下一 (Tenkaichi) - The Best in the World, The Best in the Universe.
• 天下一武道会 (Tenkaichi Budoukai) - Martial Arts Tournament to determine the best fighter in the world.

Dragons and Spheres

• 神龍、シェンロン (Shenron) - Shenlong.
• ドラゴンレーダー (Doragon Reedaa) - Dragon Radar.

Energy and Powers

• 気 (Ki) - Spiritual Energy, Mind, Spirit, Energy.
• 戦闘力 (Sentouryoku) - Power of Fight.
• 生き返る (Ikikaeru) - Revive, Come Back to Life.
• 不老不死 (Furou Fushi) - Immortality, the ability to never age or die.

Main Characters

• 孫悟空 (Son Gokuu) - Son Goku.
• 孫悟飯 (Son Gohan) - Son Gohan. "Gohan" written as ご飯 or 御飯 means "rice" (cooked) and "meal".
• 孫悟天 (Son Goten) - Son Goten.
• 孫悟空少年編 (Son Gokuu Shounen Hen) - Saga of Little Goku.
• ベジータ (Bejiita) - Vegeta. Pun with the word ベジタブル which means "vegetable".
• クリリン (Kuririn) - Kuririn. A pun with the word クリ (kuri) meaning "chestnut" and リン (rin) which may come from Shaolin Kung Fu.

Objects and Artifacts

• 亀 (Kame) - Turtle.
• 亀仙人 (Kame Sennin) - Master Roshi. Literally "Turtle Hermit".
• スカウター (Sukautaa) - Scouter.
• 仙豆 (Senzu) - Hermit Beans.
• ゼットソード (Zetto Soodo) - Z Sword, Zetto Sword.
• カプセルコーポレーション (Kapuseru Kooporeeshon) - Capsule Corporation.

Combat Techniques

• かめはめ波 (Kamehameha) - Kamehameha. "Ha" 波 means "wave".
• ギャリック砲 (Gyarikkuhou) - Galick Ho. Name of Vegeta's main technique. It is a pun with the word "garlic" which means "alho". 砲 (hou) means "cannon" or "weapon".
• 気円斬 (Kienzan) - Technique used by Krillin. It means something like "decapitating ki circle."
• 魔閃光 (Masenkou) - Evil Light Flash.
• 気功砲 (Kikouhou) - Name of the most powerful move of Tenshinran.

Races and Clans

• フリーザー族 (Furiizaa Zoku) - Freeza Clan.
• ナメック星人 (Namekuseijin) - People of Planet Namek.
• ツフル人 (Tsufurujin) - Tsufurujin. Extinct race from the Dragon Ball Z universe.

Transformations and Mergers

• 合体 (Gattai) - Fusion, Union, Combination.
• ポタラの合体 (Potara no Gattai) - Potara Fusion.
• ポタラ (Potara) - Name of the Earrings used by the Kaioshins.
• フュージョン (Fyuujon) - Fusion.
• 超サイヤ人 (Suupaa Saiyajin) - Super Saiyan.
• 超サイヤ人ゴッド (Suupaa Saiyajin Goddo) - Super Saiyan God.

Energy and Powers

• 元気玉 (Genkidama) - Energy Sphere.
• 界王 (Kaiou) - King of Worlds.
• 界王拳 (Kaiouken) - Fist of the King of Worlds.
• 界王神 (Kaioshin) - God King of the Worlds.
• 老界王神 (Rou Kaioshin) - Old Kaioshin.
• 神様 (Kami-Sama) - God.
• 破壊神 (Hakaishin) - God of Destruction.
• 全王様 (Zen'ou Sama) - King of Everything (Zeno).

Race Transformations

• 大猿 (Oozaru) - Giant Monkey.

Armies and Forces

• レッドリボン軍 (Reddo Ribon Gun) - Red Ribbon Army, Red Bow Army, Red Ribbon.
• ギニュー特戦隊 (Ginyuu Tokusentai) - Ginyuu Special Forces.

Planets and Places

• 惑星 (Wakusei) - Planet.
• 天国 (Tengoku) - Paradise, Heaven.
• 地獄 (Jigoku) - Inferno.
• 蛇の道 (Hebi no Michi) - Serpent's Path.
• あの世 (Anoyo) - The Other World.
• 閻魔大王 (Enma Daiou) - Great King Enma.
• ナメック星人 (Namekuseijin) - People of Planet Namek.

Androids and Creations

• 人造人間 (Jinzou Ningen) - Androide.

Races and Demons

• 魔人 (Majin) - Demon, Evil Spirit.
• ピッコロ (Pikkoro) - Piccolo.
• 大魔王 (Daimaou) - Daimaoh. Great Demon King.
• 鬼 (Oni) - Oni, Demon, Monster (a specific type of entity from Japanese culture).
• 猫魔人 (Neko Majin) - Demon Cat. It is a race of super powerful felines from the Dragon Ball universe.

Clans and Characters

• フリーザー (Furiizaa) - Freeza.
• セル (Seru) - Célula.
• 魔人ブウ (Majin Buu) - Majin Boo.

Other Terms

• 吸収する (Kyuushuu Suru) - Absorb.
• おっ魂消る (Ottamageru) - Very Surprised.
• 栽培マン (Saibaiman) - "Men of Cultivation".
• 瞬間移動 (Shunkan Idou) - Teleport, Teletransport.
• テレポート (Terepooto) - Teleport.
• 尻尾 (Shippo) - Tail, Tail.
• いなかもん (Inakamon) - Caipira, Person from the Countryside, Matuto.
• 田舎者 (Inakamono) - Caipira, Person from the Countryside, Matuto.
• 宇宙 (Uchuu) - Universe.
• 惹かれる (Hikareru) - To be Attracted to, To be Enchanted by.
• 屁の河童 (He no Kappa) - Molezinha, Something Very Easy, Easy Peasy.
• 無敵 (Muteki) - Invincible.
• 修行 (Shugyou) - Training.
• 武術 (Bujutsu) - Martial Arts.
• 筋斗雲 (Kintoun) - Kintoun (name of Goku's flying cloud).
• ハロー (Haroo) - Aura. Circle that appears above the heads of deceased characters in the series.

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