Japanese word

縫う

Pronunciation

Romajinū

Meaning

  • verbsew

Example

私は針で布を縫います。watashi wa hari de nuno o nu i ma su

I sew fabric with a needle.

Illustration for 縫う (sew)

More examples

破れた袋を縫いました。yabu re ta fukuro o nu i ma shi ta

I sewed up a torn bag.

Core concept

Describes joining pieces of cloth by passing thread through them with a needle.

Common phrases

  • 服を縫うfuku o nū

    sew clothes

  • 布を縫うnuno o nū

    sew fabric

  • 手で縫うte de nū

    sew by hand

Similar words

繕うtsukurou: To repair a tear or damage in cloth or clothing by sewing.
縫い合わせるnuiawaseru: To connect separate pieces of cloth by sewing their edges together.
縫い付けるnuitsukeru: To fasten cloth or another item onto a surface by sewing.

Definition in Japanese

針と糸を使って布などをつなぎ合わせる。hari to ito o tsuka tte nuno na do o tsu na gi a wa se ru

Word origin

縫う (nū) is a native Japanese verb, and its stem 縫い (nui) appears in compounds such as 縫い目 (nuime), meaning a seam.

Usage tips

  • The Japanese verb 縫う (nū) also describes moving between obstacles or through a crowd, extending the idea of passing in and out like a needle through cloth.

Other meanings

  • stitchverb

Related words

  • 縫い方nuikataway of sewingnoun
  • 縫い物nuimonosewingnoun

Word lists with this word