son, counter for sons
On'yomi (音読み)
- ロウ
- リョウ
Kun'yomi (訓読み)
- おとこ
About this kanji
The kanji 「郎」 primarily means "son" and is often used as a counter for sons. It is generally pronounced as "ロウ" or "リョウ" in on'yomi and "おとこ" in kun'yomi. You can see it in several common compounds, such as "新郎" (しんろう), which means "bridegroom," and "野郎" (やろう), a casual way to refer to a guy. Another example is "プー太郎" (ぷうたろう), meaning "unemployed person." While this kanji can have positive or neutral uses, it's good to be mindful of its implications in some contexts, as in "女郎" (じょろう), which refers to a sex worker.
Example sentences
あの郎は優秀な学者です。
That gentleman is an excellent scholar.
Meanings across languages
- English
- son, counter for sons
- Tiếng Việt
- con trai
- 日本語
- 郎
- 한국어
- 아들
- 中文
- 郎
- id
- anak laki-laki
- th
- ลูกชาย
- es
- hijo
- fr
- fils
- de
- Sohn
- pt
- filho
Common compounds
- 新郎bridegroom
- 野郎guy, fellow, chap
- プー太郎unemployed person, vagabond, floater
- 女郎prostitute (esp. Edo period)
- 下郎servant, valet, menial
- 外郎sweet rice jelly, Edo-period herbal medicine used as an antitussive and a breath freshener
- 郎党vassals, retainers, followers
- 郎君young man, boy, son (of one's master, employer, etc.)
Words using this kanji
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