Japanese word

林

Pronunciation

Romajihayashi

Meaning

  • nounwoods

Example

学校の近くに林があります。gak kō no chika ku ni hayashi ga a ri ma su

There are woods near the school.

Illustration for 林 (woods)

More examples

林の中で鳥の声を聞きました。hayashi no naka de tori no koe o ki ki ma shi ta

I heard birds singing in the woods.

Core concept

Centers on trees standing together as a natural wooded space, from a small grove to a broader stand of woods.

Common phrases

  • 林の中hayashi no naka

    in the woods

  • 林の奥hayashi no oku

    deep in the woods

  • 林に入るhayashi ni hai ru

    enter the woods

Similar words

森mori: A wide, dense area of trees that forms a natural landscape.
木立kodachi: Several trees standing together in a relatively small place.
森林shinrin: An extensive area in which trees are the main vegetation.

Definition in Japanese

木が集まって生えている一帯。ki ga atsu ma tte ha e te i ru it tai

Word origin

林 (hayashi, "woods") is a native Japanese noun formed from the idea of 生やす (hayasu, "to make grow"), pointing to land where vegetation grows thickly.

Usage tips

  • The English plural noun woods often matches 林 (hayashi) more naturally than the singular wood, which usually means the material from a tree.

Other meanings

  • forestnoun
  • grovenoun

Word lists with this word