Japanese word

のこぎり

Pronunciation

Romajinokogiri

Meaning

  • nounsaw

Example

のこぎりで板を切ります。no ko gi ri de ita o ki ri ma su

I cut a board with a saw.

Illustration for のこぎり (saw)

More examples

古いのこぎりを新しいものに替えました。furu i no ko gi ri o atara shi i mo no ni ka e ma shi ta

I replaced the old saw with a new one.

Core concept

A toothed cutting tool removes material as its blade moves repeatedly across it.

Common phrases

  • のこぎりの刃no ko gi ri no ha

    saw blade

  • のこぎりで切るno ko gi ri de ki ru

    cut with a saw

Definition in Japanese

ぎざぎざの刃を前後に動かし、木や金属などを切る道具。gi za gi za no ha o zen go ni ugo ka shi ki ya kin zoku na do o ki ru dō gu

Word origin

のこぎり (nokogiri, "saw") is a Japanese word traditionally explained as のこ (noko, "saw") combined with きり (kiri, "cutting"); the history of のこ remains uncertain.

Usage tips

  • The English word saw has two unrelated meanings, a cutting tool and the past form of see, whereas Japanese uses のこぎり (nokogiri) for the cutting tool.

Word lists with this word