Japanese word

サイコロ

Pronunciation

Romajisaikoro

Meaning

  • noundice

Example

二つのサイコロを振ります。futa tsu no sa i ko ro o fu ri ma su

I roll two dice.

Illustration for サイコロ (dice)

More examples

友達とサイコロを使って、すごろくで遊びます。tomo dachi to sa i ko ro o tsuka tte su go ro ku de aso bi ma su

I play a board game with my friends using dice.

Core concept

Describes an object thrown to produce a chance result that selects a number, move, or winner.

Common phrases

  • サイコロを振るsa i ko ro o fu ru

    roll the dice

  • サイコロの目sa i ko ro no me

    the number on a die

Similar words

ダイスdaisu: A borrowed term for a numbered object used to determine a random result in a game.

Definition in Japanese

投げて出た面の数字や印によって、数や勝敗を偶然に決めるための道具。na ge te de ta men no sū ji ya shirushi ni yo tte kazu ya shō hai o gū zen ni ki me ru ta me no dō gu

Word origin

The Japanese noun サイコロ (saikoro) has no securely established derivation; the traditional spelling 賽子 (saikoro) records the word in characters without proving how its sound developed.

Usage tips

  • A standard die has six faces and opposite faces that add up to seven, a design commonly used in board games and classroom probability activities.

Word lists with this word