Japanese word

巻

Pronunciation

Romajimaki

Meaning

  • nounroll

Example

職人が布を一巻ずつ運びます。shoku nin ga nuno o ichi maki zu tsu hako bi ma su

The craftsman carries the rolls of cloth one at a time.

Illustration for 巻 (roll)

More examples

倉庫の隅に、染め上がった布が一巻置いてあります。sō ko no sumi ni so me a ga tta nuno ga ichi maki o i te a ri ma su

A roll of dyed cloth has been placed in the corner of the warehouse.

Core concept

Refers to a length of flexible material that becomes a single manageable unit when wound into a cylinder.

Common phrases

  • 布一巻nuno hajime maki

    one roll of cloth

  • 一巻ずつichi maki zu tsu

    one roll at a time

  • 巻を数えるmaki o kazo e ru

    count rolls

Similar words

ロールrōru: A commercially handled cylinder of cloth, paper, or another flexible material.

Definition in Japanese

布などの長い物を巻いてまとめた一まとまり。nuno na do no naga i mono o ma i te ma to me ta hito ma to ma ri

Word origin

The native Japanese noun 巻 (maki, "roll") is formed from 巻く (maku, "to wind"), and the related noun form 巻き (maki, "winding") shows the same word structure.

Usage tips

  • A 巻 (maki) can label a commercially handled unit of cloth, paper, or another flexible material without specifying a universal length.

Word lists with this word