冠
also: かん · かむり · かんぶり
Meanings
traditional court cap; Shinto clergy cap
Refers to a specific type of formal headgear worn by Shinto priests and courtiers in historical contexts. Often seen in compounds like 衣冠 or 束帯.
Shinto priests wear a traditional cap during ceremonies.
General term for a crown or ornamental headpiece worn by monarchs or deities. Also used metaphorically.
The king wore a heavy crown.
top kanji radical
Only with reading かんむり
In kanji studies, refers to the 'crown' radical (かんむり), the component that sits at the top of a character, e.g., 宀 (うかんむり) or 艹 (くさかんむり).
The top part of 安 is a radical called 'u-kanmuri'.
first verse (haikai)
Only with reading かむり
Rare poetic term for the opening verse of a haikai or similar linked-verse form. Read かむり.
See also: 俳諧
In haikai, the first verse is sometimes called 'kamuri'.
taru-adjective, adverb taking the 'to' particle
Only with reading かん
Literary, old-fashioned adjective/adverb meaning 'the very best' or 'unrivaled'. Used with たる or と, e.g., 冠たる作品. Read かん.
He is the peerless poet of our time.
counter for titles (shogi)
Only with reading かん
In shogi, used to count the number of titles a player holds, e.g., 二冠 (two titles). Read かん.
He currently holds three titles.
Usage patterns
- 冠をかぶるto wear a crown
The queen was wearing a beautiful crown.
- 〈物〉に〈人〉の名を冠するto name something after a person or sponsor
This tournament is named after the sponsoring company.
- 〈数〉冠counter for the number of titles held (shogi)
He won three titles this season.
- 世界に冠たる〈物〉unrivaled in the world; the best in the world
This technology is unrivaled in the world.