松
pine tree
Readings
On'yomi
- ショウ
Kun'yomi
- まつ
Nanori
- おお
- しょ
- ま
- まっ
Meaning
松 centers on the pine tree, an evergreen conifer with needle-like leaves and distinctive cones.
Most common words using 松
20 of 196- 松まつN3
pine tree (Pinus spp.)
- 浜松はままつ
Hamamatsu (city)
- 松山まつやま
Matsuyama (city in Ehime)
- 高松たかまつ
Takamatsu (city in Kagawa)
- 小松こまつ
small pine; young pine
- 松原まつばら
pine grove
- 松江まつえ
Matsue (city in Shimane)
- 松屋まつや
Matsuya
- 赤松あかまつ
Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora); Japanese umbrella pine; tanyosho pine
- 若松わかまつ
young pine (tree)
- 松皮まつかわ
barfin flounder (Verasper moseri)
- 小松菜こまつな
Japanese mustard spinach (Brassica rapa var. perviridis)
- 松茸まつたけ
matsutake mushroom (Tricholoma matsutake)
- 松葉まつば
pine needle
- 市松いちまつ
check (pattern)
- 松明たいまつ
torch (made of pine, bamboo, reed, etc.); flambeau; torchlight
- 松風まつかぜ
(sound of) wind blowing through pine trees
- 松葉杖まつばづえ
crutch; crutches
- 松林まつばやし
pine forest
- 松坂屋まつざかや
Matsuzakaya (major Japanese department store chain)
Study
Etymology
松 combines 木 (tree) with 公, which likely contributes the sound and may suggest the tree's upright, public presence. The exact historical role of 公 is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
A tree 木 with a public 公 presence: the pine tree stands tall and recognizable, like a public landmark.
Reading mnemonic
For ショウ, imagine a pine tree casting a long shadow: shadow -> ショウ, and the pine tree's shadow stretches across the ground.