Japanese word

砂

Pronunciation

Romajisuna

Meaning

  • nounsand

Example

子どもたちは砂で遊びます。ko do mo ta chi wa suna de aso bi ma su

Children play with sand.

Illustration for 砂 (sand)

More examples

箱に砂を入れます。bako ni suna o i re ma su

I put sand in the box.

風で砂が目に入りました。fū de suna ga me ni hai ri ma shi ta

Sand got in my eye because of the wind.

Core concept

It refers to loose, tiny grains of rock that gather on the ground or along water and are treated as a mass.

Common phrases

  • 砂で遊ぶsuna de aso bu

    play with sand

  • 砂を払うsuna o hara u

    brush off sand

Definition in Japanese

岩石などが細かく砕けてできた粒の集まり。gan seki na do ga koma ka ku kuda ke te de ki ta tsubu no atsu ma ri

Word origin

The native Japanese word 砂 (suna, "sand") is written with a Chinese character borrowed for the same meaning, while the deeper origin of the native word remains uncertain.

Usage tips

  • The familiar image of an hourglass links 砂 (suna) with falling grains that mark the passage of time, giving this everyday noun a concrete place in conversations about clocks and waiting.

Word lists with this word