Japanese word

土

Pronunciation

Romajitsuchi

Meaning

  • noundirt

Example

庭の土はぬれています。niwa no tsuchi wa nu re te i ma su

The dirt in the garden is wet.

Illustration for 土 (dirt)

More examples

植木鉢に新しい土を入れて、花を植えます。ueki bachi ni atara shi i tsuchi o i re te hana o u e ma su

I put fresh soil in the flowerpot and plant a flower.

Core concept

Refers to the loose earth that forms the ground and can be handled, moved, or made wet.

Common phrases

  • 土の中tsuchi no naka

    in the soil

  • 土を掘るtsuchi o ho ru

    dig the soil

Similar words

土壌dojō: Earth considered as the layer in which plants grow, often in a formal or scientific context.
泥doro: Wet earth that becomes soft and sticky.

Definition in Japanese

地面を形づくる細かな粒状の物質で、乾いている状態やぬれた状態のもの。ji men o katachi zu ku ru koma ka na tsubu jō no bus shitsu de kawa i te i ru jō tai ya nu re ta jō tai no mo no

Word origin

土 (tsuchi, "earth") is a native Japanese word, not a Sino-Japanese compound, with a basic sense covering the material of the ground.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often use dirt for both soil and grime, while 土 (tsuchi) primarily refers to earth or ground material in everyday Japanese.

Other meanings

  • soilnoun
  • mudnoun

Related words

  • 土っぽいtsuchippoiearthyi-adjective

Word lists with this word