Japanese word

凧

Pronunciation

Romajitako

Meaning

  • nounkite

Example

空に凧が見えます。sora ni tako ga mi e ma su

I can see a kite in the sky.

Illustration for 凧 (kite)

More examples

父が凧の揚げ方を教えてくれました。chichi ga tako no a ge kata o oshi e te ku re ma shi ta

My father taught me how to fly a kite.

Core concept

A sheet stretched over a frame catches the wind and stays aloft under the control of a line.

Common phrases

  • 凧を揚げるtako o a ge ru

    fly a kite

  • 凧を作るtako o tsuku ru

    make a kite

Definition in Japanese

風を受けて空高く揚げ、糸を引いて操る紙や布などの玩具。kaze o u ke te sora taka ku a ge ito o hi i te ayatsu ru kami ya nuno na do no gan gu

Word origin

The word 凧 (tako, "kite") is native Japanese rather than a Sino-Japanese compound, and 凧 is a Japanese-made character formed from 風 (fū, "wind") and 巾 (kin, "cloth").

Usage tips

  • English uses kite for both this flying toy and a bird of prey, but Japanese 凧 (tako) refers to the flying toy, not the bird.

Word lists with this word