Japanese word

草

Pronunciation

Romajikusa

Meaning

  • noungrass

Example

庭に草が生えています。niwa ni kusa ga ha e te i ma su

Grass is growing in the yard.

Illustration for 草 (grass)

More examples

公園で草の上に座ります。kō en de kusa no ue ni suwa ri ma su

I sit on the grass in the park.

庭の草を週末に抜きます。niwa no kusa o shū matsu ni nu ki ma su

I pull weeds in the garden on weekends.

Core concept

Refers to a low-growing plant that spreads from the ground without forming a tree-like woody trunk.

Common phrases

  • 草が生えるkusa ga ha e ru

    grass grows

  • 草を抜くkusa o nu ku

    pull weeds

  • 草を刈るkusa o ka ru

    mow the grass

Similar words

雑草zassō: A plant that grows where it is not wanted, especially among cultivated plants.
芝shiba: A low grass planted or maintained to cover lawns or other ground surfaces.

Definition in Japanese

地面に生え、木のように幹が木質化しない植物の総称。ji men ni ha e ki no yō ni miki ga moku shitsu ka shi na i shoku butsu no sō shō

Word origin

草 (kusa, "grass") is a native Japanese word inherited from older Japanese, but its exact earlier origin is not securely known.

Usage tips

  • English uses grass for the plant itself and weed when it is unwanted, so 草 (kusa) can match either word depending on the context.

Other meanings

  • weednoun

Word lists with this word