also: ぐすく · グシク · ぐしく
noun
gusuku; Okinawan castle; Ryukyuan fortress
Refers to the traditional stone castles or fortresses of the Ryukyu Islands, often designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites. The kanji 城 is used in Okinawan place names but the word itself is typically written in kana.
首里城は沖縄の代表的なグスクです。
Shuri Castle is a representative gusuku of Okinawa.
世界遺産に登録されたグスクを訪ねた。
I visited the gusuku that are registered as World Heritage sites.
Standard Japanese word for castle; グスク specifically denotes the distinct Ryukyuan style of fortification.
Ryukyuan word for castle or fortress; the exact origin is uncertain, but it is a native term of the Ryukyu Islands.