Japanese word

編む

Pronunciation

Romajiamu

Meaning

  • verbbraid

Example

私は毎朝、髪を編みます。watashi wa mai asa kami o a mi ma su

I braid my hair every morning.

Illustration for 編む (braid)

More examples

発表会の前に、妹の髪を編みました。hap pyō kai no mae ni imōto no kami o a mi ma shi ta

I braided my sister's hair before her recital.

Core concept

It centers on crossing strands or loops together so they form one connected structure, covering braiding hair, knitting yarn, and weaving cloth.

Common phrases

  • 髪を編むkami o a mu

    braid hair

  • 前髪を編むmae gami o a mu

    braid one's bangs

  • ひもを編むhi mo o a mu

    braid a cord

Similar words

編み込むamikomu: To incorporate one strand or section into an existing braid or connected structure.
織るoru: To make cloth by passing threads over and under one another.

Definition in Japanese

糸や髪などの細長いものを交差させて組み合わせる。ito ya kami na do no hoso naga i mo no o kō sa sa se te ku mi a wa se ru

Word origin

The native Japanese verb 編む (amu) forms the noun 編み物 (amimono), "knitting or other textile handwork," from its verb stem 編み (ami).

Usage tips

  • English speakers often reserve braid for strands crossed into a strip, while knit usually forms loops and weave passes threads over and under each other.

Other meanings

  • knitverb
  • weaveverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 編み物amimonoknittingnoun
  • 編み方amikataway of braidingnoun
  • 編み込みamikomibraidingnoun

Word lists with this word