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Goku, Chiaotzu, Yamcha and Tien. They all sound like typical Japenese names...right?? Maybe so, but not entirely. Almost every characters' name is a play on words, or has some significant meaning. Prior to Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama was best known for his gag comics, especially the popular series Dr. Slump. Even Dragon Ball began as a gag manga, only over time did it evolve into a plot-driven series as we know it today. But Toriyama never let go of his roots and expressed his humor in subtle, (and sometimes not so subtle), ways. Here we'll discuss just a few of the jokes and stories behind the names of the characters in Dragon Ball Z.
Saiyan-Known in the Japanese version as Saiya-jin or Saiya People, the word Saiya is a jumbled version of the Japanese word yasai which means Vegetable. In other words, they are the Vegetable People. Further study will reveal that the name of the race whom the Saiyans obliterated in order to take over their planet, the Tsufuru-jin, (known as the Tuffles here in America), is actually an arrangement of the Japanese word Furutsu or, Fruit. The big joke is, it was the Vegetable People vs. the Fruit People...On Planet Plant! Every Saiyan's name is a play on a vegetable of some sort. The vegetable theme is prevalent in TV Specials and even movies. Goku-Known in the Japanese version as Son Gokou, the main character of the Dragon Ball series is actually based on the main character in an ancient Chinese Legend, His Yu Chi (Shee Yo Ji) or The Record of the Journey West. Son Gokou is the Japanese translation of the Chinese name Son Wukong. Son Wukong was the Monkey King born of stone thousands of years ago. Son Gokou was based on this character, who was generally kind and good willed, but sometimes naive...and dangerous. Without straying too far from the path, the story of Dragon Ball itself is at first based much on the original legend, and throughout the series, many similarities show up between the two. Gohan-Gohan is the Japanese word for cooked rice and the suffix for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Once again, being a Saiyan, his name is actually based on a vegetable. It's also important to remember that Gohan was actually named after Goku's adoptive grandfather by the same name. Goten-Goku's second son has a pun that relates directly to his fathers name. The first character that makes up their name, (Go), is shared. But,"ku" means sky, and "ten" means heaven. Kakarot-Better known as Goku, this Saiyan who was raised on Earth was born with a name that was a play on the word Carrot. Bulma And Family-Bulma is a play on bloomers, which were women's undergarments that were first introduced in the 1800's. As you'll see, everyone in Bulma's family is named after some type of undergarment. For example, both Dr. Briefs and Trunks are respective variations of underwear and boxers. While Bulma's daughter, Bra, is, well, you know. Krillin-Even though Krillin isn't really bald, Akira Toriyama loved to make fun of his lack of hair anyway, which is why he called him Kuririn. Kuririn is a variation of the Japanese word, kurumi, meaning chestnut. Marron-(not to be confused with Maron) Krillin and Android 18's Daughter doesn't fair any better than her dad when it comes to names. A marron is a French Chest-nut. Just like Dad. Tien-Known as Tenshinhan in the Japanese version, this is the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese words, "Tien Chun Fan", a type of fried rice. Chiaotzu-Called Chaozu in the Japanese version, it is actually the direct Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word for "dumpling". Yamcha-This former bashful bandit's name means "dim sum" a form of Chinese food that is similar to dumplings. Master Roshi-Roshi actually has two titles in the Japanese version of Dragon Ball. One is Muten Roshi, which means, Master Roshi. The other is Kame Sennin, which means, Turtle Sage. Everything about Master Roshi has to do with Turtles. Just look at his house! Kame house means Turtle house. Piccolo Daimaou and Family-Piccolo Daimaou is the evil half of the original Piccolo. He is the "father" of the Piccolo we all know and love in Dragon Ball Z (here after referred to as simply Piccolo). His name literally means, Piccolo the Great Demon King, or Piccolo Satan, which complements his good half, Kami, which means God. Before giving "birth" to Piccolo, Daimaou spawned a few other family members. There was Piano, Drum, Tambourine, and Cymbal. Everyone in this family is named after a musical instrument of some sort. Vegeta-The Prince of all Saiyans is rightfully named after his race, Vegetable. Nappa-Vegetas bodyguard is named after a type of lettuce. Raditz-Goku's evil brother's name is a play on the word radish. Pan-Goku's granddaughter's name means bread, in Japanese and Spanish. Nameckians-Taken from the Japanese word, 'namekuji', meaning slug, every nameck has a name that is somehow related to those sliding, slimy creatures. In DBZ movie 4, they went so far as to call the Evil Nameckian villian, Slug. Dende-This name is from the Japanese word "denden-mushi", a term that is used to describe any mollusk of the Gastropod class. Kargo-Dende's little friends' name is simply part of the French cuisine called Escargot, which is snails! Nail-This one is pretty obvious. No it is not the thing you hit with a hammer. It's Nail's name is just 'snail' without the "S". Emperor Pilaf-The little emperor's name is actually a type of Turkish rice dish. It means sautéed, seasoned rice. Shao and Mai-Even though they're two different characters, the unlucky subordinates of the Emperor Pilaf are actually a two-in-one pun. Their names combined, "shao-mai", is a dim sum dumpling dish. Frieza's Faimly-Frieza, his brother Coola and his father King Cold are all named after chilly things. After all, a good villain should give you the chills. Frieza's Men-In the Japanese version of Dragon Ball Z, all of Frieza's men were named after types of fruit. Like Kiwi, Apple, Raspberry and Blueberry. But, did you know that his two most powerful henchmen were also types of fruit? A Dodoria is a brown fruit about the size of an egg called "Chinese Gooseberry". A Zarbon is a fruit known in America as a pomelo. Ginyu-A variation of the Japanese word 'gyunyu' that means (drum roll please)....MILK! That's Right! Milk. This fighting force is essentially "The Dairy Force"! Wait 'till you see the names of other members.  Jeice-A play on the Japanese word juusu better know here as "Juice". Burter-In the Japanese version, Burter's name is Baata, which literally means, butter. Guldo-Known in the Japanese version as Gurudo, this villian's name is a play on "yuguuruto", or Yogurt! Recoome-In Japan, Rikuumu's name is a jumbled version of "kurimu", which means cream. Bibidi-Bibidi is the father of Babidi, and the creator of Buu. As we go along, lets see if you can figure out this one. Babidi-Babidi is the maniacal son of Bibidi, bent on ruling the universe by resurrecting his father's incredibly dangerous weapon. Have an idea yet? Buu-The strongest and most mindless villain in Dragon Ball Z. Okay, let's look at our past three clues. Put them together and what have you got? "Bibidi, Babidi, Buu!" Jackie Chun-Master Roshi's alter ego is named after the famous and most death-defying actor/stuntman extraordinaire, Jackie Chan. Jackie is a big fan of Dragon Ball, and Akira Toriyama is likewise a big fan of Jackie. Toriyama has even gone on record saying that Jackie's movie Drunken Master 2 (released here as Legend of the Drunken Master), inspired him when he was creating some parts of Dragon Ball Z. Mister Satan-Although no specific reason has been given, this so-called World Champion is named after the Prince of Darkness. Videl-Mr. Satan's daughter is a play on the word Devil. Just rearrange the words, and you'll get Videl. Ox King-In the Japanese version, Ox King's name is Gyuu Maou, which means Bull Demon King. He was a character in the Chinese legend His Yu Chi, from which Goku's name is also taken. His wife was a beautiful, (but moody), woman who protected their most prized treasure, a fan that could extinguish any flame. This is Ironic because in the DragonBall Universe the Ox King's Castle was consumed by a fire that could only be put out with the Bansho Fan. But since Master Roshi had it and lost it Master Roshi must go and put out the fire with his mighty Kamehameha. But shoots too close and blows up the castle. Bubbles-King Kai's little buddy is named after,(you wont believe this), Michael Jackson's pet monkey. Oolong-The shape changing pig's name is derived from the Chinese words, Wu Long. Wu Long literally means Black Dragon, but it's actually a type of black tea. |