Many Dragon Ball fans like to talk down on the relationship between Goku and Chi-Chi. They often bring up how Goku can be a neglectful husband and father, while Chi-Chi comes off as too uptight to be with someone like him. But some don’t realize even through their flaws, they always stick beside each other because, in actuality, they work.
As a Saiyan living on Earth, Goku needed someone who could ground him and help him navigate life as a proper human. Chi-Chi was the perfect fit, mainly because she was still figuring it out herself. Much like Goku, Chi-Chi has a fighting background and grew up isolated from normal society. In a way, they were both learning what it meant to live a normal life. This is just one of the many reasons why Goku and Chi-Chi are a better fit than anime fans think.
10 Goku & Chi-Chi Are Each Other’s Ideal Partners
Chi-Chi and Goku’s Nature Blend Together
Contrary to popular belief, Goku and Chi-Chi are each other’s ideal partners. Saiyans are naturally drawn to strong-willed women, as revealed by Vegeta in Dragon Ball Super, and Chi-Chi is exactly that for Goku. Chi-Chi has a fiery, unyielding personality Goku is naturally attracted to, whereas Goku is a carefree and pure soul, which Chi-Chi can’t help but love.
Although it may seem like Chi-Chi wants a traditional husband who can earn a lot of money, what she is naturally attracted to is strength, and Goku more than fits the bill. Both have a spirit which can’t be swayed, and though Chi-Chi might not be strong enough to compete in the Tournament of Power, she’s a strong fighter in her own right. She’s the daughter of the Ox King and trained Goten to become a Super Saiyan, which may have something to do with knowing Goku so well she could pass the transformation along.
9 Goku & Chi-Chi Don’t Have Book Smarts (Or Much of Any Smarts)
Goku and Chi-Chi's Simplicity Makes Them a Perfect Pair
It’s quite apparent Goku wouldn’t be able to pass the SATs, but Chi-Chi would flunk every written exam right along with her beloved. What most anime fans don’t realize is Chi-Chi is always trying to imitate the “ideal woman,” which she learns about from magazines. This is because she isn’t like them at all; she had an extremely isolated upbringing where learning wasn’t a priority or even the norm.
In the Dragon Ball manga, both are portrayed as country bumpkins — Chi-Chi even more so than Goku. Her thick accent and way of speaking show she won’t be of any help to Gohan when it comes to his studies, and it’s particularly why she pushes Gohan so hard to be educated and speak properly. Still, Goku and Chi-Chi’s lack of book smarts makes them two endearing peas in the same non-educated pod.
8 Goku & Chi-Chi Compromise for Each Other
Goku and Chi-Chi's Willingness to Bend Proves Their Love
Many Dragon Ball fans criticize Chi-Chi and Goku’s dynamic because Chi-Chi started out opposing Gohan’s training, which is understandable since he was 5 at the time. But she eventually bent her strict ideals a bit, allowing Gohan to train but to always prioritize his studies. Chi-Chi even trained Goten when Goku wasn’t around to do it, showing she understands the importance of training.
Goku has also compromised many times, including wearing a suit, getting married, and working as a farmer. He found farming, in particular, especially boring, but he knew he needed to make ends meet and keep his wife, Chi-Chi, happy. Although some may see Goku’s willingness to meet Chi-Chi halfway as fear, it’s a little bit of that, but also his caring about what Chi-Chi wants as he tries to become more responsible.
7 Chi-Chi Tries to Elevate Goku (& Herself)
Chi-Chi Is Determined to Grow Alongside Goku as a Proper Family
It’s apparent Chi-Chi wants to be seen as the ideal mother and wife for her children and husband. But she also expects Goku to match her efforts and has made the relationship stronger by elevating him along with her. In a relationship, you grow together or you grow apart; you don’t want to level up and leave your significant other lagging behind, which is why Chi-Chi is so devoted.
Goku is a carefree warrior who goes wherever the good fights are, but Chi-Chi always tries to maintain the structure in Goku’s life by adding things like monetary stability to the equation. Although she may seem controlling at times, her actions are with the intention to improve their family life. And only Chi-Chi can keep Goku on track to become a more responsible adult, father, and husband.
6 Chi-Chi Satisfies Goku’s Large Appetite
Cooking Is Chi-Chi's Way to Goku’s Heart
Goku and Chi-Chi work so well together because Chi-Chi truly knows how Goku’s mind works. Beyond working up a sweat by training and fighting, Goku lives to eat. Before Chi-Chi, Goku’s first love was food, which Chi-Chi uses as a way to capture his heart.
Although it doesn’t take much to realize Goku loves food, Chi-Chi goes above and beyond for her man to ensure he has a feast whenever he comes back home from a battle or training session. Cooking is like showing her affection for her husband. Her full-on feasts keep Goku fulfilled, and it gives Chi-Chi what she wants most — her beloved always coming back home.
5 Chi-Chi Is Head Over Heels for Goku
Chi-Chi’s Love for Goku Is Forever
Goku and Chi-Chi met as children, and it was love at first sight for Chi-Chi. Ever since that day, Chi-Chi could never get over the spiky-haired boy, even with all of his flaws. She waited years for Goku, built a family together with her ideal man, and never looked back.
Chi-Chi may get annoyed from time to time, but even she admits she can’t stay mad at Goku for too long. And although viewers rarely see affection from the two since this is not that kind of series, there are times when their love is undeniable. A perfect example is when Goku fell ill with the heart virus, and Chi-Chi stayed by his side the entire time.
4 Goku & Chi-Chi Have Done a Good Job Raising Their Children
Goku and Chi-Chi Raised Heroes With Heart
Goku and Chi-Chi aren’t the sharpest tools in the shed, but they certainly work well together, and their children are living proof. For two ignorant hicks to raise someone as kind-hearted and intelligent as Gohan alone shows how well their strengths balance each other out. Chi-Chi and Goku’s blended style of parenting worked wonders — even with the whole dad being dead for years thing.
Chi-Chi tried her best to instill the importance of education in her children so they wouldn’t always have to fight all day and could properly raise their families. Goku, on the other hand, taught his sons where true strength comes from and how to remain brave in the face of danger. Together, they raised some pretty good kids who have already saved the planet.
3 Chi-Chi Teaches Goku How to Love
Both Are Learning How to Love Together
Chi-Chi was left in the dark with a lot of her education, even the emotional kind, which is why the bulk of her romantic knowledge comes from magazines. However, she did catch on quickly and chose Goku as her other half. On the other hand, Goku wasn’t as immersed in the whole romantic, love life sort of thing, putting all of his effort into fighting. This is exactly why Chi-Chi is always trying to give Goku some pointers.
It’s best Goku didn’t rely on others for this — the closest romantic model in his life was Master Roshi, of all people, which would’ve been a major problem. Fortunately, Chi-Chi shows Goku that love is sticking beside each other and growing old together. Both are steadily working through the kinks to build on that love.
2 Goku & Chi-Chi's Loyalty to Each Other Knows No Bounds
Through Death and Illness, Goku and Chi-Chi Always Reunite
It’s as plain as can be that Chi-Chi wants to remain by Goku’s side forever. They’ve already known each other since they were kids, and sticking by someone that long is quite rare. Through it all, Goku always finds his way back home to some of Chi-Chi’s home cooking.
They’ve remained together despite Goku frustrating Chi-Chi on a daily basis. They’ve endured everything, whether Goku was on his deathbed or literally dead. Goku always comes back, and Chi-Chi can never get enough of the man she fell in love with as a girl.
1 Chi-Chi Always Challenges Goku
Chi-Chi Pushes Goku in Ways Training Wouldn't
A great way to elevate your partner is by challenging them to be better. The perfect person to fulfill this role is someone who won’t back down, won’t take no for an answer, and will keep their loved one in check when needed. No true fighter wants a yes-woman who sits quietly at his beck and call, which is why Chi-Chi is perfect for Goku.
Goku loves himself a challenge, and Chi-Chi’s way will always keep him grounded. With this dynamic, Goku and Chi-Chi will both grow under each other’s watchful eyes, proving yet again why Chi-Chi and Goku work so well together.
