Japanese word

くず

Pronunciation

Romajikuzu

Meaning

  • noungarbage

Example

道ばたのくずを拾います。michi ba ta no ku zu o hiro i ma su

I pick up garbage by the road.

Illustration for くず (garbage)

More examples

料理のくずは、庭の堆肥にできます。ryō ri no ku zu wa niwa no tai hi ni de ki ma su

Food scraps can be turned into compost for the garden.

Core concept

Refers to material left over or broken down until it has little practical value.

Common phrases

  • くずが出るku zu ga de ru

    scraps are produced

  • くずを減らすku zu o he ra su

    reduce waste

  • くずを再利用するku zu o sai ri yō su ru

    reuse scraps

Similar words

ごみgomi: Material that is unwanted and treated as waste.
かすkasu: A small amount left after the useful part has been removed or used.
廃棄物haikibutsu: Material discarded because it is no longer needed or useful.

Definition in Japanese

不要になり、価値を失った物やその細かな残り。fu yō ni na ri ka chi o ushina tta mono ya so no koma ka na noko ri

Word origin

The native Japanese noun くず (kuzu, "scrap") is commonly written 屑 (kuzu, "scrap"), but its deeper etymology is uncertain.

Usage tips

  • The English plant name kudzu comes from Japanese 葛 (kuzu, "kudzu"), while garbage is くず (kuzu, "garbage"), so the two Japanese words sound alike but have different meanings.

Other meanings

  • scrapnoun
  • wastenoun
  • dregsnoun

Related words

  • くず屋kuzuyajunk dealernoun

Word lists with this word