Japanese word

ばつ

Pronunciation

Romajibatsu

Meaning

  • nouncross

Example

答えが違うので、先生がばつを付けます。kota e ga chiga u no de sen sei ga ba tsu o tsu ke ma su

The answer is wrong, so the teacher puts a cross on it.

Illustration for ばつ (cross)

More examples

テストの答案にはばつが一つだけありました。te su to no tō an ni wa ba tsu ga hito tsu da ke a ri ma shi ta

There was only one cross on the test paper.

Core concept

Marks an answer or item as wrong by placing an X-shaped sign on it.

Common phrases

  • ばつを付けるba tsu o tsu ke ru

    mark with a cross

  • ばつが付くba tsu ga tsu ku

    get a cross mark

Similar words

ばってんbatten: A spoken term for an X-shaped mark used to show that an answer is wrong.
ペケpeke: An informal mark placed on an answer or item that does not meet the required standard.

Definition in Japanese

答えや記入の誤りを示すために付ける印。kota e ya ki nyū no ayama ri o shime su ta me ni tsu ke ru shirushi

Word origin

The noun ばつ (batsu), often written バツ (batsu), has an uncertain origin in this mark sense; its link to the X shape or to 罰 (batsu, "punishment") is not firmly established.

Usage tips

  • The mark ばつ (batsu) is commonly used on a wrong answer in Japan, whereas a circle often marks a correct answer.

Opposites

  • まるmarucirclenoun

Word lists with this word