Translation guide
A tall, slender-leaved plant that grows in water or wet ground, often used for thatching, weaving, or as a musical instrument.
The plant itself, growing in wetlands.
General term for reed, especially common reed (Phragmites australis). Often used in poetry and nature contexts.
Reeds are growing by the lake.
Often used in scientific or ecological contexts, or to distinguish from other reeds. Same plant as 葦.
ヨシ原は多くの鳥の生息地です。
Reed beds are habitats for many birds.
Dried reeds used as a building material, especially for roofs.
When referring to the material, 葦 is still used. Often in compounds like 葦葺き (reed thatching).
この家の屋根は葦で葺かれている。
The roof of this house is thatched with reeds.
Specifically refers to reed thatching or a reed-thatched roof.
伝統的な葦葺き屋根の家を見学した。
We visited a house with a traditional reed-thatched roof.
A thin piece of cane or metal in a wind instrument that vibrates to produce sound.
Borrowed from English 'reed'. Used for musical instrument reeds (clarinet, saxophone, etc.).
クラリネットのリードを交換する必要がある。
I need to change the clarinet reed.
Reeds used for weaving baskets, mats, or screens.
Again, 葦 is used for the material. Often in compounds like 葦簾 (reed screen).
葦で編んだ籠は軽くて丈夫だ。
Baskets woven from reeds are light and sturdy.
A reed screen or blind, often used in summer.
夏になると窓に葦簾をかける。
In summer, we hang reed screens on the windows.
葦 (あし) is the traditional Japanese word, while ヨシ is often used in biology or ecology. In everyday conversation, 葦 is more common.
Reeds are not bamboo. Bamboo is 竹 (たけ). Reeds are softer and grow in water.