朴
crude, simple, plain, docile
Readings
On'yomi
- ボク
Kun'yomi
- ほう
- ほお
- えのき
Meaning
朴 centers on natural, unadorned simplicity: something crude or plain in its raw state, and by extension a docile, unpretentious nature.
Most common words using 朴
- 朴ほお
Japanese bigleaf magnolia (Magnolia obovata)
- 素朴そぼくN2
simple; artless; naive; unsophisticated
- 純朴じゅんぼく
simple and honest; unsophisticated; simpleminded; naive; unspoiled
- 朴訥ぼくとつ
unsophisticated; ruggedly honest; artless; unaffected; simple; naive
- 朴念仁ぼくねんじん
quiet unsociable person
- 単純素朴たんじゅんそぼく
plain and simple; naive
- 厚朴こうぼく
Japanese bigleaf magnolia bark (used in Chinese medicine)
- 敦朴とんぼく
honest and homely; simple
- 朴の木ほおのき
magnolia (Magnolia obovata); Japanese big leaf magnolia
- 朴伴ぼくはん
Camellia japonica 'Bokuhan' (cultivar of common camellia)
- 朴歯ほおば
geta supports made out of magnolia wood; geta with these supports
- 朴直ぼくちょく
simplicity; honesty; naivete
- 朴葉味噌ほおばみそ
magnolia leaves grilled with miso and negi
- 浜朴はまぼう
hardy yellow hibiscus (Hibiscus hamabo)
- 素朴実在論そぼくじつざいろん
naive realism
- 素朴派そぼくは
naïve art; naivism
- 質朴しつぼく
simple (and honest); simple-hearted; unsophisticated
Study
Etymology
朴 combines 木 (tree) with 卜, which likely contributes the sound. The idea of unworked wood extends to simplicity and plainness.
Meaning mnemonic
A tree 木 beside a simple divination stick 卜 suggests raw, unshaped wood. Think of a plain, crude piece of timber—simple and docile.
Reading mnemonic
For ボク, imagine a simple wooden box: box -> ボク, and the plain box reflects the kanji's crude, unadorned nature.