Dragon Ball started off as a story about a young boy traveling the world seeking adventures. Goku met a few other companions along the way. Only one of those companions became super smitten with Goku. Princess Chi-Chi was out seeking the Basho Fan to save her kingdom, Fire Mountain. Goku and his friends join Chi-Chi, and during their adventure, Chi-Chi found herself falling in love with Goku. She didn’t confess her feelings at the time but hoped he would think about her.

Goku and Chi-Chi’s love story begins in a sweet manner that would make any viewer say “aww.” When they reunite years later, Chi-Chi is no longer an innocent child. She trained with her warrior father, the Ox-King. When she met Goku again, she was secretly thrilled. Goku aged physically, but emotionally, he was still a child. Unfortunately for Chi-Chi, Goku’s first passion would always be fighting, even after their two sons, Gohan and Goten, were born.

Chi-Chi and Goku’s family gets the most attention in the Dragon Ball series. Most viewers have paid more attention to the relationship between the couple. Some wonder how Goku could stand being constantly nagged, while others feel sorry that Chi-Chi will never have her traditional family.

You don’t want to miss this list if you’re curious about some of the darkest secrets around Chi-Chi and Goku’s relationship.

20 Ending Before It Began

Chi-Chi was sent to obtain the Basho Fan to save her land, Fire Mountain. She had to meet with the Ox-King's old mentor. After running into a rampaging dinosaur, Chi-Chi met Yamcha. At first, she's scared of him and tries to attack him. Yamcha ends up attacking and knocks her out. After realizing who she was, he regrets his decision and tries to help her instead. When Chi-Chi wakes up, Yamcha lies and tells her he loves her. Chi-Chi was young and inexperienced. She took his confession seriously. When they met again during the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament, Chi-Chi no longer has Yamcha on her mind. She apologizes and tells him that she can't accept his confession, nor can she marry him. If Chi-Chi were as aggressive in chasing Yamcha as she was Goku, she could have married him instead.

19 Extreme Sacrifices For Love

The Dragon Ball series has focused more on the grown-up lives of the main characters. Chi-Chi and Goku spend more time married than as childhood friends. It's no wonder that so many fans forget that Chi-Chi is a princess.

If her father, the Ox-King, were to pass away, Chi-Chi would have become Queen of Fire Mountain.

She sacrificed her prestigious position to live a humble life with Goku. Of course, this was her decision, but Goku never realizes how much Chi-Chi has let go to be with him. The only thing he does appreciate is that her father is still quite wealthy, and he doesn't have to worry about money for a long period. Luckily for Goku, Chi-Chi doesn't regret her decision.

18 A Forgotten Name

Before Chi-Chi and Goku parted ways as children, she had one request: that he would think of her. She had already fallen in love with Goku. He was wondering why she was blushing. She made it her goal to become stronger and reunite with him. Chi-Chi surprised Goku at the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament. She signed up as an anonymous participant so he would be surprised when they met in battle. Unfortunately for Chi-Chi, Goku didn't remember her name. We can’t blame Goku too much since he’d fought several battles and no doubt took some severe damage along the way. It took some time before he realized she was the same girl he met as a child.

17 She Doesn’t Trust Goku To Remember

Chi-Chi spends several years homeschooling Gohan. When he's one year from reaching adulthood, she decides that there's nothing more she can teach him. She tries to get her son into prestigious schools. Not only would they provide him the best education, but it would also give her something to brag about to her friends. Chi-Chi forces Goku to come along. He would rather be training but knows he has to be there for his son.

Chi-Chi doesn't trust Goku to talk about Gohan's intelligence.

She coaches him with various phrases to say, while she believes she will do most of the work. King Kai ends up needing Goku's help, so he transports away with Gohan. They completely miss the interview. After the battle is over, Chi-Chi is angry but impressed that Goku still remembers the lines she coached him.

16 Too Bad He Always Gets Caught

Goku loves everything related to fighting. There’s nothing that gets his heart pumping like engaging in a battle to save Earth or watching two warriors fight. It’s his favorite hobby. His family is aware of his passion for fighting. Chi-Chi highly disapproves of Goku's favorite past time. She wouldn’t mind if he were able to balance it between family and work, but he can’t. Goku will at least ask if he can go off to train. Chi-Chi usually refuses because she knows that Goku will be gone for months. She doesn’t have a paying job outside of the radish farm and relies on her husband to make an income. Goku will often sneak out to train or fight anyway, defying Chi-Chi’s wishes. He believes she won’t catch him, which she usually does.

15 She Could Be Happier With His Best Friend

Chi-Chi wasn't fond of Piccolo after they first met. He has a history as the Demon King, destroyed Goku, and took away Gohan for a year. She has valid reasons for disliking the alien. Time passed, and Piccolo earned everyone's trust.

After Cell eliminated Goku, Piccolo and Gohan began to train together seriously. They form a strong bond, which surpasses his relationship with Goku's best friend, Krillin.

Gohan begins to feel that Piccolo is like a surrogate father for him, especially after the alien sacrifices himself to save him.

Thankfully, Whis was able to bring him back to life with the Temporal Do-Over. Chi-Chi found a new respect for Piccolo. He could have replaced Goku but stood to the side when his friend came back to Earth.

14 A Movie And Dinner Is Too Boring

When Gohan is about to have his first date in The Great Saiyaman Saga, Chi-Chi recalls her own. When she and Goku were still young, she forced Goku to go on a date with her. Goku has spent most of his life fighting and having fun, so he didn't know what she meant. Chi-Chi wanted Goku to think of her as more than a friend. She told him to think of the most enjoyable thing to do. In a move that isn't shocking to anyone, Goku said his favorite thing to do is fight. Chi-Chi isn't that surprised but is willing to play along. They wind up in a fierce battle. They aren't trying to hurt each other, but it proves to be a fun, yet, challenging match. She tells Gohan that it turned out to be a "great first date."

13 They Don’t Spend Every Evening Together

Goku can be considered the main protagonist of the Dragon Ball series. Even when the series creator tried to make Gohan the main character instead, he went right back to bringing Goku into the spotlight again.

Goku has changed in power levels and fighting abilities over the years, but he’s remained the same character.

He still wants to fight, even though he’s married with two children. Goku loves to train, but sometimes he is forced into battle. He’s one of the best Z-Fighters, so we can’t blame the elders for telepathically asking for his help. Goku will often leave as quickly as possible, leaving his family wondering what happened. He’ll even occasionally take his sons with him, leaving Chi-Chi completely alone.

12 No Discussion On The Safety Of Their Children

Thanks to trading school for fighting, Goku has had years of training for alien threats. He's capable of fighting on his own if he's at the right Super Saiyan level. Goku has also been eliminated at least four times during the series. He's powerful but can still face defeat. Chi-Chi just wants her sons to be safe. She knows how devastating it can be to witness Goku getting hurt and doesn't want her two sons to follow in his footsteps. Goku doesn't often consider Chi-Chi's wishes. She may refuse to let Gohan and Goten battle, but Goku is more concerned with saving Earth. He even puts Gohan in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber to seriously train for a year. Chi-Chi has no choice but to watch her children fight.

11 Has Physically Tried To Stop Him

Chi-Chi has proven herself to be a tough fighter. She can't transform into a Super Saiyan warrior, but she can still fight. As a child, she takes out an entire group of Red Ribbon Soldiers alone. As a teen, she competes in the Martial Arts Tournament. Her power level even grows over the course of the Dragon Ball series.

When Goku wants to take their sons to train or fight, Chi-Chi gets upset. She doesn't let him take her sons without getting mad.

Chi-Chi has attempted to stop Goku on multiple occasions, physically.

Though she doesn't hit him, she tries to reach out to him by screaming. When she gets close to grabbing Goku, someone has to hold her back. Often, more than one person is needed to keep Chi-Chi in place.

10 Chi-Chi Has To Ask Dad For Help

Even in the world of Dragon Ball, being a grown-up can be difficult. People need places to live, food to eat, and work to earn Zeni. Chi-Chi and Goku aren't from the modern world. Chi-Chi grew up as a Princess on a mountaintop while Goku was supposed to destroy Earth, but lost his memory instead. She took to modern living easily, while Goku never entirely grew up. Chi-Chi constantly demands that Goku get a well-paying job. He refuses and keeps putting his job search off for another day. Chi-Chi is busy caring for the household, but she has one option to get money: ask her father, the Ox-King. He provides money for Chi-Chi's family. Only when his fortune is destroyed are Chi-Chi and Goku forced to become radish farmers to earn money.

9 She’ll Never Be Able To Change Him

Chi-Chi assumed her life would be different than it turned out. She has a loving family and the man she fell for as a child. She thought he would be as eager as she was to settle down. Goku is incapable of settling down. The only time he’s not part of the battle is when he’s been temporarily removed from the world of the living.

Chi-Chi already has an ideal dream of a family.

Her mother passed away soon after she was born and her father didn’t remarry. Though it’s seen as a running gag, Chi-Chi wants Goku to get a stable job and earn Zeni. She doesn’t want suitcases of prize money but accepts them with some hesitation. She is happy once Gohan turns out to be what Goku isn’t: a businessman dedicated to his family.

8 Farming Allows Goku Freedom

After his fortune is gone, Ox-King feels terrible that he can no longer give money to the Son family. He wants to help his son-in-law and two grandsons. Chi-Chi will always be his little girl. Since Goku won't get a job, the Son family starts a farm. They decide to use their land to grow radishes. Chi-Chi's hobby was farming anyway and she tells Goku what he needs to do. She is too busy taking care of the household. Goku has come to terms with their little business. Goku admits to Goten that since he's out on the land alone most of the time, it means that he doesn't have to ask Chi-Chi for permission to fight. He can take off to train any time he wants.

7 Harm Comes From Both Sides

The Dragon Ball series combines slapstick humor with action. Many viewers tune in to watch Goku and his friends annihilate the latest alien threat. The characters will also joke around with lighthearted humor, but sometimes make you raise an eyebrow.

Goku and Chi-Chi don't get along when it comes to their sons' training and school schedules.

When he's so thankful she'll allow the men to train to fight Cell; he smacks her back so hard she flies. When Chi-Chi appears on the screen again, she's covered in bandages, and her arm is in a sling. Chi-Chi has also hit Goku, but it's usually seen as a gag. She hit him while he was recovering in the hospital and also smacked him for not appreciating Gohan's movie debut more in Dragon Ball Super.

6 Faced Off As Young Adults

When Chi-Chi and Goku meet again during the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament, she is no longer wearing blue bikini armor. She's wearing a martial arts uniform that fully covers her body. She greets him, but he's already forgotten her. Chi-Chi's angry at first but plays along. She gives him a challenge: if he defeats her, she will tell him her true identity.

No one else at the tournament knew except for Oolong and Master Roshi, so everyone hoped Goku would find out. When the two faced each other in the ring, the battle doesn't last long. He throws one punch in the air. The force of the wind knocks her out of the ring. Chi-Chi doesn't stand a chance against the blow. She immediately loses the match.

5 Criticism Doesn’t Stop Until A Sad Event

Chi-Chi has been pretty hard on Goku. She not only yells at him for not being an ideal husband, but she is also rude to her sons. Viewers excuse her behavior as being a stereotypical Japanese mother.

Chi-Chi's awful actions have earned a reputation as being a terrible character.

She doesn't stop nagging Goku until his tragic passing. She spends months crying over what happened. Chi-Chi regrets not being kinder to Goku while he was still alive. She still has a chance to make sure Goten is happy. Chi-Chi begins to relax on her strict methods and allow Goten to both train and study. When Goku finally returns to Earth, Chi-Chi learns to appreciate the man she married more.

4 Zeni By Any Means Necessary

Chi-Chi may mellow out during the Dragon Ball series, but she still wants Goku to provide for their family. When Goku is off fighting, no income is being made. They are forced to live off of Fire Mountain's treasure until it's destroyed. Chi-Chi often nags Goku about providing for the family. It turns out that it's not the method of making money that counts. She just wants Goku to bring home some cash.

After Kid Buu is defeated, Hercule offers to give Goku 100 million Zeni. He feels guilty about taking the credit to defeat the alien. Goku brings home the cash, wondering what to tell Chi-Chi. She's thrilled about the suitcase of money, which is an estimated one million dollars. Chi-Chi doesn't care much about what Goku does as long as he brings home the Zeni.

3 Afraid Of The Backlash From His Actions

Goku's obsession with fighting is known in the Dragon Ball universe. Aliens are just happy to face him in battle. They don't expect that they could find another worthy opponent on a small planet. Aliens don't scare Goku as much as his wife.

Chi-Chi spends more time angry at Goku for fighting than getting along with him.

It's gotten so bad that he will sneak off to train. Goku doesn't want to refuse a request from a friend. It could be a matter of life or having the entire planet explode. Chi-Chi doesn't understand Goku's intentions. He's well-aware that returning home after leaving a family meal means he will get scolded. Goku is so scared of Chi-Chi's wrath that there were some nights that Goku just didn't return home.

2 Goku Could Have Been A Bachelor

When they were kids, Chi-Chi not only wanted Goku to remember her but also to make her his bride. Goku agreed but eventually forgot her name. He never learned what a bride was until she explained it to him. After they reunited as grown-ups at the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament, Chi-Chi still wanted Goku to marry her. Good-natured Goku agreed and proposed to her. Chi-Chi agrees happily and confesses her love to him. He didn't know what that means either, so she kisses his cheek. The crowd at the tournament cheered, while Goku was still confused. If not for Chi-Chi explaining love and marriage to Goku, he would have never married her. Goku simply did not know a family outside of his adoptive grandfather, Master Roshi.

1 A Unique Relationship Not Everyone Will Understand

After seeing how Chi-Chi yells at Goku and her sons, you might wonder if she's happy. She wanted to marry Goku and believed that she would get a perfect family but didn't expect the Son men. When Goku is taken out by Cell, she's heartbroken. Gohan avenged his father, but it didn't bring him back. According to the Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai book, Gohan stated that Chi-Chi spent many nights crying as she mourned Goku. Seven years later, Chi-Chi gets the opportunity to see Goku again during the 25th World Martial Arts Tournament. Instead of nagging him, she is grateful to see him.

Chi-Chi tells him how much she misses him, which Goku reciprocates.

Though we don't often get to see such tender moments on-screen, it's obvious how much Chi-Chi and Goku love each other.