phrase, clause, sentence, passage

About this kanji

The kanji 句, pronounced 'ku' in on'yomi, primarily means 'phrase' or 'clause.' It is commonly used in compound words rather than as a standalone noun. One popular compound is 俳句 (はいく, haiku), which refers to a traditional form of Japanese poetry, typically consisting of three lines. Another example is 文句 (もんく, complaint), which means 'phrase' in the sense of a verbal expression of dissatisfaction. 句集 (くしゅう, collection of haiku poems) refers to a book of haikus. A usage note: while 句 itself isn't frequently used alone in conversation, its compounds are very common in both spoken and written Japanese.

Example sentences

• 美しい句を詠んだ。

  I composed a beautiful verse.

Meanings across languages

English

phrase, clause, sentence, passage, paragraph, counter for haiku

Tiếng Việt

câu, đoạn, mệnh đề

日本語

句, 句子, 文

한국어

구, 절, 문장

中文

句, 段落, 句子

id

frasa

th

ประโยค

es

frase

fr

phrase

de

Satz

pt

frase

Common compounds

• 俳句はいくhaiku, 17-mora poem, usu. in 3 lines of 5, 7 and 5 morae
• 文句もんくcomplaint, grumbling, objection
• 禁句きんくtaboo word, forbidden topic, words or phrases not allowed (in waka and haikai)
• 句集くしゅうcollection of haiku poems
• 絶句ぜっくbeing lost for words, becoming speechless, jueju (Chinese quatrain with lines of either five or seven syllables)
• 挙句あげくafter (a long process), at the end of, last line (of a renga)
• 節句せっくseasonal festival
• 慣用句かんようくidiom, set phrase, idiomatic phrase

Words using this kanji