Skip to content
Kotomora

墓

grave, tomb

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · grade 5FrequencyTop 2,000Strokes13

Readings

On'yomi

  • ボ

Kun'yomi

  • はか

Meaning

墓 centers on a physical place for the dead: a grave or tomb, where remains are buried and memorialized.

Most common words using 墓

20 of 51
  • 墓はか
    N3

    grave; gravesite; tomb

  • 墓地ぼち
    N2

    cemetery; graveyard

  • 墓場はかば

    graveyard; cemetery

  • 墓石ぼせき

    tombstone; gravestone

  • 墓参りはかまいり
    N2

    visit to a grave

  • 墓穴ぼけつ

    grave (pit)

  • 墓標ぼひょう

    grave marker; gravestone; headstone

  • 墓所ぼしょ

    graveyard

  • 墓守はかもり

    grave maintenance; grave keeper

  • 墳墓ふんぼ

    grave; tomb

  • 墓前ぼぜん

    in front of a grave

  • 陵墓りょうぼ

    imperial tomb; imperial mausoleum

  • 墓碑ぼひ

    gravestone; tombstone

  • 墓碑銘ぼひめい

    epitaph; inscription on a tombstone

  • ゆりかごから墓場までゆりかごからはかばまで

    from the cradle to the grave

  • スマ墓スマぼ

    smart grave (app)

  • 両墓制りょうぼせい

    double-grave system; system of having one grave for the body and a separate one for prayers and services

  • 公園墓地こうえんぼち

    garden cemetery; park cemetery; memorial park

  • 共同墓地きょうどうぼち

    public cemetery

  • 再葬墓さいそうぼ

    secondary grave (usu. for disinterred and washed bones); reburial grave

Explore all words using 墓 →

Study

Etymology

墓 combines 土 (earth, soil) with 莫, which likely contributes the sound and may suggest covering or darkness, fitting a grave covered by earth.

Meaning mnemonic

The top 莫 looks like a mound of grass and plants, and the bottom 土 is earth. Picture a grassy mound of earth marking a grave.

Reading mnemonic

For ボ, imagine a solemn bow (お辞儀) at a grave: bow -> ボ, as you pay respects at the tomb.