phrase, clause, sentence, passage
Also: paragraph, counter for haiku
On'yomi (音読み)
- ク
Kun'yomi (訓読み)
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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
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