Translation guide
A bundle of cut grain stalks or similar long things tied together. In Japanese, the most common word is 束 (たば), but specific terms exist for rice sheaves and other contexts.
A tied bundle of harvested grain, especially rice, wheat, or barley.
General word for a bundle of long things like grain stalks, firewood, or flowers. For grain sheaves, it's the most common term.
Dry sheaves of rice.
Specifically a sheaf of rice plants. Used in agricultural contexts.
田んぼに稲束が並んでいる。
Sheaves of rice are lined up in the paddy field.
A tied bundle of similar long objects like sticks, arrows, or paper.
Same word as above, used for any bundle of long, thin items. Context clarifies the material.
矢の束を背負う。
Carry a sheaf of arrows on one's back.
書類の束を机に置く。
Put a sheaf of documents on the desk.
A collection of things likened to a sheaf, such as rays of light or poems.
Can be used metaphorically for a concentrated group of things, like light rays.
光の束が雲間から差し込む。
A sheaf of light streams through the clouds.
Literally 'one bundle', can be used poetically for a collection of poems or letters.
恋文の一束を見つけた。
Found a sheaf of love letters.
Use the counter 束 (たば) for bundles: 一束 (ひとたば) = one sheaf, 二束 (ふたたば) = two sheaves.