Japanese word

俳句

Pronunciation

Romajihaiku

Meaning

  • nounhaiku

Example

この俳句は五七五です。ko no hai ku wa go nana go de su

This haiku follows a five-seven-five pattern.

Illustration for 俳句 (haiku)

More examples

図書館で好きな俳句を声に出して読みます。to sho kan de su ki na hai ku o koe ni da shi te yo mi ma su

I read my favorite haiku aloud at the library.

Core concept

Captures a small moment of nature or human feeling in a compact verse whose rhythm and detail suggest more than it states.

Common phrases

  • 俳句を詠むhai ku o yo mu

    compose a haiku

  • 俳句を作るhai ku o tsuku ru

    write a haiku

  • 俳句を読むhai ku o yo mu

    read a haiku

Definition in Japanese

五・七・五の音数を基本とし、季語を用いて自然や心情などを表す短詩。go nana go no on sū o ki hon to shi ki go o mochi i te shi zen ya shin jō na do o arawa su tan shi

Word origin

The Japanese compound 俳句 (haiku, "haiku") joins 俳 (hai, "playful") with 句 (ku, "verse unit"). It became the modern name for 俳諧の発句 (haikai no hokku, "opening verse of linked verse").

Usage tips

  • English-language haiku often follows a five-seven-five syllable pattern, but Japanese haiku counts morae, so the two traditions use different measures.

Word lists with this word