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Kotomora

箸

chopsticks

StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 5,000Strokes15

Readings

On'yomi

  • チョ
  • チャク

Kun'yomi

  • はし

Meaning

箸 centers on the utensil used for picking up food: chopsticks. The meaning is concrete and specific, with no major abstract extensions.

Most common words using 箸

20 of 68
  • 箸はし
    N5

    chopsticks

  • 割り箸わりばし
    N1

    dispensable chopsticks; throwaway chopsticks

  • 箸休めはしやすめ

    entremets; intermezzo; small palate-cleansing dish served between courses

  • 箸置きはしおき

    chopstick rest

  • 菜箸さいばし

    long chopsticks (for cooking, serving, etc.)

  • ずぼら箸ずぼらばし

    picking up a bowl with one's right hand which is already holding one's chopsticks (a breach of etiquette)

  • せせり箸せせりばし

    poking one's food around using one's chopsticks; playing with one's food with one's chopsticks (a breach of etiquette)

  • マイ箸マイばし

    one's own chopsticks; washable chopsticks carried in a case (used instead of disposable chopsticks)

  • 一本箸いっぽんばし

    single chopstick stuck upright into the bowl of rice offered to the deceased at their funeral

  • 五本箸ごほんばし

    eating with one's hands; five chopsticks

  • 刺し箸さしばし

    skewering one's food with a chopstick in order to pick it up (a breach of etiquette)

  • 匕箸ひちょ

    spoon and chopsticks

  • 取り箸とりばし

    chopsticks used to move food from a serving dish to one's own dish

  • 叩き箸たたきばし

    ringing one's chopsticks against a dish (in order to request seconds, etc.) (a breach of etiquette)

  • 塗り箸ぬりばし

    lacquered chopsticks

  • 太箸ふとばし

    festive chopsticks; thick round chopsticks used on festive occasions

  • 嫌い箸きらいばし

    things prohibited by chopstick etiquette

  • 孕み箸はらみばし

    thick chopsticks with both ends equally thin

  • 寄せ箸よせばし

    drawing a dish towards oneself using one's chopsticks (a breach of etiquette)

  • 忌み箸いみばし

    things prohibited by chopstick etiquette

Explore all words using 箸 →

Study

Etymology

箸 combines 竹 (bamboo) with 者, which likely contributes the sound. The character originally referred to bamboo chopsticks, reflecting the material used to make them.

Meaning mnemonic

The top 竹 is bamboo, and the bottom 者 looks like a person sitting at a table. Picture bamboo sticks held by a person eating: 箸 are chopsticks.

Reading mnemonic

For チョ, imagine picking up a piece of chocolate with chopsticks: cho -> チョ, and the bamboo chopsticks lift the sweet treat.