棋 in Chinese / Japanese...

棋 is the most simple or generic way to write “chess” in Asia.

棋 is part of other more specific words for board games of strategy such as the western version of chess, Chinese chess, Weiqi, or Go.

In Japanese, this single character is pronounced “Go” and often refers to the game known in the west as “Go” (not just the 5-in-a-row version but also the complicated encirclement game of strategy known in China as Weiqi).

In Chinese, this can be more ambiguous as to which game of chess you speak.

If you like any version of chess, or games of intense strategy, this can be the character to hang on the wall in your game room.

将棋 is the title for shogi or Japanese chess.

圍棋 is the Chinese title for the ancient game of strategy known as Weiqi or Wei Chi in Chinese and Go in Japanese.

Note: In Japanese, this game is known by a different single Kanji as seen to the right. If you want this Japanese "Go" character, click the Kanji to the right instead of the button above.

西洋棋 is the Chinese title for the game of Chess (western style as opposed to Chinese Chess, Weiqi, or Japanese Go).

西洋将棋 is the Japanese title for the game of Chess (western style as opposed to Chinese Chess, Weiqi, or Japanese Go).