Dragon King (lóng wáng) is a legendary deity in Chinese mythology who rules over oceans, rivers, lakes, and rain. The character 龙 (lóng) means 'dragon' — a powerful, auspicious, and divine creature in Chinese culture — while 王 (wáng) means 'king' or 'ruler'. Together, they form a compound noun denoting the sovereign of aquatic realms, often depicted as a human-like figure with dragon features, controlling weather and waterways.

The Dragon King appears frequently in classical literature (e.g., Journey to the West), folk religion, temple worship, and festivals like the Dragon Boat Festival. There are traditionally four Dragon Kings, each governing one of the Four Seas (East, South, West, North). Though mythical, the term is still used today in storytelling, idioms (e.g., 龙王发怒 — 'the Dragon King rages', meaning sudden heavy rain), and cultural references to authority over natural forces.