Chi-Chi

The fiery wife who promised marriage on a flying cloud and raised two Saiyan sons.

Chi-Chi is a prominent fictional character from the Dragon Ball franchise, created by Akira Toriyama. She first appeared in Chapter #11 of the manga, titled "...And into the Fire!" Known for her fiery personality and role as Goku's wife, she is the mother of Son Gohan and Son Goten. While often portrayed as a shrewish and overprotective figure, Chi-Chi remains one of the most recognizable female characters in the series, appearing consistently in merchandise and cosplay. Her journey spans from an innocent child promising marriage to Goku into a strict matriarch managing a household of warriors.

Quick Facts

Franchise: Dragon Ball
Creator: Akira Toriyama
Family: Ox-King (father); Ox Queen (mother)
Spouse: Goku (husband)
Children: Gohan (son); Goten (son)
Occupation: Housewife
First: Dragon Ball chapter 11: "...And into the Fire!", 27 November 1984 (Weekly Shōnen Jump 1984)
Species: Human

Lore & Background

Chi-Chi's story begins as an unnamed child fleeing a dinosaur, which she decapitated with a blade attached to her helmet. After meeting Goku, she made him promise to marry her when they grew up, though he mistakenly thought "marriage" was a type of food. They reunited during the Red Ribbon Army Saga and again at the 23rd Tenka'ichi Budôkai tournament, where Chi-Chi concealed her identity until Goku defeated her. Upon realizing his opponent was the girl from his childhood, Goku kept his promise.

In Dragon Ball Z, her role shifted to that of a Kyōiku mama, strictly enforcing academic pursuits for Gohan and later Goten while discouraging fighting. She became a single mother after Goku sacrificed himself against Cell, raising both sons until Goten's birth shortly after the Cell Saga. During the Buu Saga, she confronted Majin Buu, scolding and slapping him out of anger for the lives he had taken; Buu retaliated by turning her into an egg and crushing her. In the Future Trunks arc of Dragon Ball Super, Future Chi-Chi was killed along with Future Goten by Goku Black.

Reader's Guide

Fans encountering Chi-Chi will find her voice history distinct across languages: Mayumi Shō voiced her until Dragon Ball Z episode 88, succeeded by Naoko Watanabe. In English dubs, Laura Bailey voices the child version while Cynthia Cranz handles the adult role in the Funimation dub; Andrea Libman and Laara Sadiq/Lisa Ann Beley cover her in the Ocean dub. Her name was localized as "Milk" in Hispanic-American Spanish due to slang connotations of the original name. In gaming, she is playable as a competitor from the 23rd Tenka'ichi Budôkai in Super Dragon Ball Z (2006) and appears as both child and adult versions in Dokkan Battle. She appears as an enemy character in titles such as Dragon Ball: Origins and as a cook in Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot; Toriyama expressed slight disdain for the character in a 2003 interview.

Did You Know?

In Dragon Ball Daima, a mini version of Chi-Chi is voiced by Ai Kakuma, differing from the original voice actors Mayumi Shō and Naoko Watanabe.
Chi-Chi's original swimsuit costume was based on a character named Pola from Toriyama's earlier manga series, Pola & Roid.
In Dragonball Evolution, actress Jamie Chung spent three days filming a scene where she fought an evil duplicate of herself using CGI body replacement technology.