竜馬

竜馬 (ryūme, ryūma): A shogi piece representing a promoted bishop.

From Middle Chinese 龍馬 (ljowng mæ^X, literally “dragon + horse”). The goon reading, so likely the initial borrowing.

• On’yomi: Goon
  • IPA^(key): [ɾʲɨᵝːme̞]

竜馬 (shinjitai kanji, kyūjitai kanji 龍馬, hiragana りゅうめ, rōmaji ryūme)

1. (idiomatic) an excellent horse, a very fast horse
2. (shogi) a promoted bishop

Alteration of ryūme above, using the kan'yōon reading of ma for the 馬 character.

• On’yomi
  • IPA^(key): [ɾʲɨᵝːma̠]

竜馬 (shinjitai kanji, kyūjitai kanji 龍馬, hiragana りゅうま, rōmaji ryūma)

1. (shogi) a promoted bishop

The ryūma reading is common, but might be considered by some to be less technically correct than the ryūme reading.[1]

Shift in pronunciation ryūme above. The kan'on for both characters, so probably a re-borrowing from a later stage of Middle Chinese.

• On’yomi: Kan’on
  • IPA^(key): [ɾʲo̞ːba̠]

竜馬 (shinjitai kanji, kyūjitai kanji 龍馬, hiragana りょうば, rōmaji ryōba)

1. (idiomatic) an excellent horse, a very fast horse

This is a homophone with the synonymous spelling 良馬 (ryōba, literally “good horse”).

Alteration of ryūme above, using the kan'on reading of ryō for the 竜 character.

• On’yomi
  • (Tokyo) りょ​ーめ [ryóꜜòmè] (Atamadaka – [1])[2]
  • IPA^(key): [ɾʲo̞ːme̞]

竜馬 (shinjitai kanji, kyūjitai kanji 龍馬, hiragana りょうめ, rōmaji ryōme)

1. (idiomatic) an excellent horse, a very fast horse

Probably an alteration of ryōba above, using the kan'yōon reading of ma for the 馬 character.

• On’yomi
  • IPA^(key): [ɾʲo̞ːma̠]

竜馬 (shinjitai kanji, kyūjitai kanji 龍馬, hiragana りょうま, rōmaji Ryōma)

1. A surname​.

Compound of 竜 (tatsu, “dragon”) +‎ の (no, possessive particle) +‎ 馬 (uma, “horse”).[3][2] The no is implied in this spelling.

• 竜の馬

• Kun’yomi
  • IPA^(key): [ta̠t͡sɨᵝ no̞ ɯ̟ᵝma̠]

竜馬 (shinjitai kanji, kyūjitai kanji 龍馬, hiragana たつのうま, rōmaji tatsu no uma)

1. (idiomatic) an excellent horse, a very fast horse
   • c. 759, Man'yōshū (book 5, poem 808), text here

     多都乃麻乎 阿礼波毛等米牟

     たつのまを あれはもとめむ

     Tatsu no ma o / are wa motomemu

     “I would want a dragon horse...”

     (Note that the ancient form of uma was sometimes rendered as ma or muma. See the etymology at 馬 for more details.)