Shogi Meaning: Definition, Kanji, and Pronunciation
The meaning of shogi (将棋) is “general’s board game.” The first kanji, 将 (sho), means general, and the second, 棋 (gi), means board game. In Japanese the word is the everyday name for the game English speakers often call Japanese chess.
Shogi definition
Shogi is a two-player strategy board game from Japan, played on a 9x9 board. Each side starts with 20 pieces and tries to checkmate the other side’s king. Unlike chess, captured pieces change sides and can be dropped back onto the board. The rules reference covers the full game.
The two kanji
The word is written with two characters:
- 将 (sho): general. The military rank, a commander of troops. The same character appears in the names of three pieces: the king, the gold general, and the silver general.
- 棋 (gi): board game. This character covers strategy board games in general, not shogi alone. It also appears in the Chinese name for go and in the Chinese name for xiangqi, Chinese chess (象棋).
Put together, 将棋 reads as “the board game of generals.” The name fits the set. Every piece is a rank or unit in an army, from the general at the top down to the foot soldier.
Shogi pronunciation
| Form | Shogi |
|---|---|
| Kanji | 将棋 |
| Hiragana | しょうぎ |
| Romanized | shōgi (usually written plain “shogi” in English) |
| Sounds like | “shoh-gee,” with a hard g as in “game” |
The line over the o in shōgi marks a long vowel, so hold the first syllable a little longer. Most English text drops that line, called a macron.
Where the name comes from
Dictionaries trace the word to the 11th century, and it is probably related to the Chinese word for xiangqi, 象棋. Older Japanese texts sometimes wrote it with other characters, such as 象戯, but 将棋 is the standard spelling today.
In Japanese, 将棋 can also be used for related games beyond the 9x9 version, including the many historical shogi variants. When a Japanese speaker says shogi with no qualifier, though, they mean the standard game. If you want the full background on the game itself, see what is shogi.
The 棋 family of words
Once you know 棋, you’ll spot it all over shogi vocabulary:
- 棋士 (kishi): a professional shogi or go player.
- 棋譜 (kifu): a game record, the written list of moves.
- 詰将棋 (tsume shogi): a checkmate puzzle. 詰み (tsumi) means checkmate, so tsume shogi is “checkmate shogi.” Our tsume shogi guide explains the format, and the puzzles page has 20 you can solve on the board.
What the piece names mean
Each piece carries its name in kanji. The literal meanings are a small window into the army theme:
| Piece | Kanji | Reading | Literal meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| King | 王将 / 玉将 | osho / gyokusho | king general / jeweled general |
| Rook | 飛車 | hisha | flying chariot |
| Bishop | 角行 | kakugyo | angle mover |
| Gold general | 金将 | kinsho | gold general |
| Silver general | 銀将 | ginsho | silver general |
| Knight | 桂馬 | keima | cassia horse |
| Lance | 香車 | kyosha | incense chariot |
| Pawn | 歩兵 | fuhyo | foot soldier |
Three promoted pieces have names of their own. The promoted rook is 龍王 (ryuo, “dragon king”), the promoted bishop is 龍馬 (ryuma, “dragon horse”), both also written with the simpler 竜, and the promoted pawn is と金 (tokin, “reaches gold”). The shogi pieces guide shows how each one moves and gives a quick method for recognizing the characters on the board.
Sente and gote
Two more words come up in almost every shogi explanation:
- 先手 (sente): “earlier move.” The player who moves first. English sources call this player Black.
- 後手 (gote): “later move.” The player who moves second, called White in English.
Who gets to be sente is decided by tossing pawns, which the board setup page covers. The rules reference uses both terms throughout.
Seeing the words in play
The fastest way to make these words stick is to see them on a board. You can play shogi free in your browser, with a piece-set toggle that switches between kanji pieces and symbol-based international pieces. Start with the international set if the characters slow you down, then switch once the moves feel natural.
FAQ
What does shogi mean in English?
Shogi (将棋) means “general’s board game.” The first kanji, 将 (sho), means general, and the second, 棋 (gi), means board game. In English the game is usually called Japanese chess, because it belongs to the same family of games as Western chess.
What are the kanji for shogi?
Shogi is written 将棋. The first character, 将, means general and also appears on the king, gold general, and silver general pieces. The second, 棋, means board game and also appears in Japanese words like kifu (棋譜, a game record) and kishi (棋士, a professional player).
How do you pronounce shogi?
The word is しょうぎ in hiragana, romanized as shōgi. Say it “shoh-gee,” holding the first vowel slightly long and using a hard g as in “game.” English writing usually drops the line over the o and spells it simply “shogi.”
What do sente and gote mean in shogi?
Sente (先手) means “earlier move” and refers to the player who moves first. Gote (後手) means “later move” and refers to the second player. English sources usually call sente Black and gote White, even though shogi pieces are all the same color.
Is shogi the Japanese word for chess?
Not quite. Shogi is the name of the Japanese game, which is related to Western chess but has its own board, pieces, and drop rule. The word 将棋 can also be used loosely for related games, but on its own it means the Japanese game.