1 / 3
DAI
大
large · big
✎ Editor's glossbig — in shape or in scale
Naruto · Characters · Kanji file 029
Orochimaru 大蛇丸
Pronounced o·ro·chi·ma·ru
Orochimaru is the name of the arch-enemy of the hero Jiraiya in Jiraiya Gōketsu Monogatari, a tale published in Japan's Edo period. Together with Jiraiya's wife Tsunade, these three are widely held to be the models for Naruto's Legendary Sannin. Look at the kanji: 大蛇 (orochi) is a legendary serpent — think Yamata no Orochi of Japanese mythology — and 丸 (maru) is said to derive from maro (麻呂), an ancient first-person pronoun and honorific. Maru, by the way, gets attached not only to people but to animals and famous swords. In Naruto he appears as the villain among the Legendary Sannin. In Japanese lore the snake — shedding its skin, growing again and again — stands for life force and immortality; and for Orochimaru too, immortality and reincarnation are the keywords.
From Edo-period fiction
📖 Databook: Rin no Sho, p. 46 · Tō no Sho, p. 57 · Sha no Sho, p. 52 · Jin no Sho, p. 72
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Breaking down the kanji
Here's what each character means — and how to write it. In Japan, following the correct stroke order is considered the key to writing kanji beautifully. Readings, stroke counts and core meanings below come directly from the KANJIDIC2 dictionary database. The red ✎ line is the editor's gloss — the meaning that is actually alive in this name, chosen by our editors from a Japanese kanji dictionary.
2 / 3
JA
蛇
snake · serpent · hard drinker
✎ Editor's glosssnake
3 / 3
GAN
丸
round · full (month) · perfection
✎ Editor's glossa suffix added to boys, swords and ships
What's next
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Original artwork — free to save
The kanji, on one sheet
A reference card we drew ourselves — the characters in Japanese brush style.
Quick answers
FAQ
How many strokes is 大蛇丸?
17 in total: 大 is 3, 蛇 is 11, 丸 is 3.
How do you pronounce Orochimaru?
Say it o·ro·chi·ma·ru (大蛇丸). Japanese has no strong word stress: give each syllable about the same length and weight, and keep the vowels short and clear — a as in “father,” i as in “machine,” u as in “food,” e as in “met,” o as in “go.”
What characters make up Orochimaru?
大蛇丸 — 大, then 蛇, then 丸. Core meanings from the KANJIDIC2 dictionary database: 大 large · big; 蛇 snake · serpent; 丸 round · full (month).
Can I use the copied kanji anywhere?
Yes — it's standard Unicode text and works on any modern OS. One caution before you print or ink it: make sure the font is a Japanese one. Some fonts render the same characters in Chinese style, and the difference shows.