Meaning

Primary

Tokugawa

Word Type

proper noun

Explanation

This is one of those words that makes more sense when you look at the reading. The "Virtue River" isn't some virtuous river, it's in fact the Tokugawa family name, made famous by the Tokugawa shogunate. They ran Japan for a while, you know?

Reading

とくがわ
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

The readings are and the vocab put together into one word. Once you can read this, you'll know the meaning too, so focus on the reading for this one. Just watch out for the rendaku that changes かわ to がわ!

Context

Context Sentences

徳川家康って誰?

Who is Ieyasu Tokugawa?

うちの犬、徳川家っぽい顔してると思わない?

Doesn't my dog kind of look like someone from the Tokugawa family?

徳川の時代にもどりたいって言ったら、ママにスマホ取り上げられた。

I said I wanted to go back to the Tokugawa era — Mom took my phone.

彼女は歴女で、徳川幕府にはとても精通しています。

She likes Japanese history and is very familiar with the Tokugawa Shogunate.

Kanji Composition