Readings: ロウ, リョウ (Onyomi), おとこ, いらつ (Kunyomi)
Meaning: son, man, husband, fellow, young man, gentleman
The kanji 郎 (ロウ) is a phono-semantic compound. It combines 艮 (こん), which contributes to the sound and vaguely suggests “good” or “firm,” and 邑 (おおざと), the radical for “village” or “town,” often found in kanji related to people or places. Historically, it referred to a young man, retainer, or gentleman, carrying a positive connotation. In Japan, it became widely used as a suffix for male names, signifying “son” or “young man.”
View JLPT N1 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 郎 consists of 9 strokes. It starts with the two horizontal strokes on the top left, followed by the vertical stroke. Then, the components on the right (邑 radical) are drawn, starting with the vertical stroke, then the box-like structure, and finally the closing stroke.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 邑 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 9 |
| JLPT Level | N1 |
| Grade | Joyo |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ロウ (RŌ)
- リョウ (RYŌ)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- おとこ (otoko)
- いらつ (iratsu)
Common Words Using 郎
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 太郎 | たろう | Tarō (a common Japanese male given name) |
| 新郎 | しんろう | bridegroom |
| 次郎 | じろう | Jirō (a common Japanese male given name) |
| 一郎 | いちろう | Ichirō (a common Japanese male given name) |
| 郎党 | ろうどう | retainers, followers, henchmen |
| 令郎 | れいろう | your son (polite) |
| 郎君 | ろうくん | young gentleman, young lord (archaic) |
| 郎女 | ろうじょ | young lady (archaic) |
| 花郎 | かろう | Hwarang (historical Korean youth group) |
| 侍郎 | じろう | an ancient official title in China |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 郎 | おとこ | man (very rare as standalone word, archaic/literary) |
| 郎子 | おとこご | boy, young man (archaic) |
| 郎人 | おとこびと | man, retainer (archaic) |
| 郎女 | いらつめ | young lady (archaic, special compound reading) |
| 郎女 | むすめ | daughter (archaic, special compound reading, usually 娘) |
| 郎等 | いらつど | retainers, followers (archaic, special compound reading) |
| 郎等 | いらつら | retainers, followers (archaic, special compound reading) |
| 郎君 | いらつきみ | young lord, prince (archaic, special compound reading) |
| 郎 | いらつこ | young man, prince (archaic, often in compounds) |
| 郎 | わかもの | young man (archaic, rarely written with 郎 alone) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 太郎は毎日図書館で勉強している。
Kana: たろうはまいにちとしょかんでべんきょうしている。
Romaji: Tarō wa mainichi toshokan de benkyō shiteiru.
English: Tarō studies in the library every day.
Japanese: 新郎は緊張しながら誓いの言葉を述べた。
Kana: しんろうはきんちょうしながらちかいのことばをのべた。
Romaji: Shinrō wa kinchō shinagara chikai no kotoba o nobeta.
English: The bridegroom nervously spoke his vows.
Japanese: 一郎は野球選手として有名だ。
Kana: いちろうはやきゅうせんしゅとしてゆうめいだ。
Romaji: Ichirō wa yakyū senshu to shite yūmei da.
English: Ichirō is famous as a baseball player.
Japanese: その土地の領主には多くの郎党がいた。
Kana: そのとちのりょうしゅにはおおくのろうどうがいた。
Romaji: Sono tochi no ryōshu ni wa ōku no rōdō ga ita.
English: The lord of that land had many retainers.
Japanese: 令郎様はご健やかにお過ごしですか。
Kana: れいろうさまはごすこやかにおすごしですか。
Romaji: Reirō-sama wa o-sukoyaka ni o-sugoshi desu ka?
English: Is your son well? (Polite)
Japanese: 昔の物語では、郎君と郎女の恋がよく描かれている。
Kana: むかしのものがたりでは、ろうくんとろうじょのこいがよくえがかれている。
Romaji: Mukashi no monogatari de wa, rōkun to rōjo no koi ga yoku egakareteiru.
English: In old tales, the love between a young lord and a young lady is often depicted.
Japanese: 結婚式で新郎新婦が笑顔で入場した。
Kana: けっこんしきでしんろうしんぷがえがおでにゅうじょうした。
Romaji: Kekkonshiki de shinrō shinpu ga egao de nyūjō shita.
English: The bride and groom entered with smiles at the wedding ceremony.
Japanese: 二郎はいつも笑顔でみんなを和ませる。
Kana: じろうはいつもえがおでみんなをなごませる。
Romaji: Jirō wa itsumo egao de minna o nagomaseru.
English: Jirō always makes everyone feel at ease with his smile.
Japanese: 花郎は古代朝鮮の若者集団だった。
Kana: かろうはこだいちょうせんのわかものしゅうだんだった。
Romaji: Karō wa kodai Chōsen no wakamono shūdan datta.
English: Hwarang were youth groups in ancient Korea.
Japanese: 太郎冠者は狂言の典型的な登場人物である。
Kana: たろうかじゃはきょうげんのてんけいてきなとうじょうじんぶつである。
Romaji: Tarōkaja wa kyōgen no tenkei-teki na tōjō jinbutsu de aru.
English: Tarōkaja is a typical character in Kyogen plays.
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