竜馬

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

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

• IPA^(key): [ɾʲɨᵝːme̞]

竜(りゅう)馬(め) • (ryūme) 

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

• When written on shogi pieces, kyūjitai 龍馬 is preferred.

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

• IPA^(key): [ɾʲɨᵝːma̠]

竜(りゅう)馬(ま) • (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.

• IPA^(key): [ɾʲo̞ːba̠]

竜(りょう)馬(ば) • (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.

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

竜(りょう)馬(め) • (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.

• IPA^(key): [ɾʲo̞ːma̠]

竜(りょう)馬(ま) • (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

• IPA^(key): [ta̠t͡sɨᵝ no̞ ɯ̟ᵝma̠]

竜馬(たつのうま) • (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.)