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Kotomora

朴

crude, simple, plain, docile

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes6

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

Explore all words using 朴 →

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.