Japanese word

壺

Pronunciation

Romajitsubo

Meaning

  • nounpot

Example

祖父は壺を作ります。so fu wa tsubo o tsuku ri ma su

My grandfather makes pots.

Illustration for 壺 (pot)

More examples

その壺に梅の枝を生けています。so no tsubo ni ume no eda o i ke te i ma su

They are arranging plum branches in that vase.

Core concept

Centers on a hollow, rounded vessel used to contain, preserve, or present something.

Common phrases

  • 壺の底tsubo no soko

    bottom of a pot

  • 壺を焼くtsubo o ya ku

    fire a pot

  • 壺を飾るtsubo o kaza ru

    display a pot

Similar words

花瓶kabin: A vessel designed to hold flowers and present them for display.

Definition in Japanese

口が狭く胴がふくらんだ、物を入れるための器。kuchi ga sema ku dō ga fu ku ra n da mono o i re ru ta me no utsuwa

Word origin

The Japanese noun 壺 (tsubo, "pot") is represented by the Chinese-derived kanji 壺, associated with the Sino-Japanese reading コ (ko, "pot"); the form tsubo is the native Japanese reading.

Usage tips

  • A 壺 (tsubo) can hold flowers as well as other objects, so the word can overlap with vase in descriptions of Japanese ceramics.

Other meanings

  • jarnoun
  • vasenoun

Related words

  • 壺状tsubojōpot shapenoun

Word lists with this word