凧たこ

also: はた

た

こ

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

noun

kite

Refers to the toy flown in the wind. The reading たこ is standard; はた is rare.

子こ供どもたちは公こう園えんで凧たこを揚あげている。
The children are flying kites in the park.
正しょう月がつに凧たこ揚あげをするのが楽たのしみです。
I look forward to flying kites at New Year's.

See all 20 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

凧たこを揚あげるto fly a kite
公こう園えんで子こ供どもたちが凧たこを揚あげている。
The children are flying kites in the park.
凧たこが上あがるfor a kite to rise/go up
風かぜが強つよいので凧たこがよく上あがる。
Since the wind is strong, the kite goes up easily.
凧たこの糸いとを引ひくto pull the kite's string
彼かれは凧たこの糸いとを引ひいて高たかく飛とばした。
He pulled the kite's string to fly it higher.

Kanji

凧kite, (kokuji)
紙paper
鳶black kite, fireman, hook

Related words

カイト
凧 is the traditional Japanese word for a kite, while カイト is a modern loanword often used for Western-style or sport kites.

Don't confuse with

タコN1
凧 (たこ) is a flying kite while 蛸 (たこ) is the sea creature octopus; they share pronunciation but are unrelated in meaning.

Counted with

枚まいN3
Used for kites (凧) that are made of flat paper.

Word family

凧たこ絵え
picture on a kite; kite design
和わ凧だこ
Japanese kite; traditional Japanese kite
奴やっこ凧だこ
footman-shaped kite
字じ凧だこ
kite with a character written on it
絵え凧だこ
painted kite; kite with a picture on it
凧たこ揚あげ
kite flying

Written forms

凧Usage96%
- たこ
  Standard kanji spelling; the reading たこ is the most common.
- はた
  Rare reading of 凧; it is a valid but uncommon pronunciation.
たこUsage4%
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially for children or when the kanji is not needed.
紙鳶たこUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; it is rarely used.
紙た凧こ
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; it is rarely used.
はた

Etymology

The kanji 凧 is a kokuji (Japanese-made character) combining 巾 (cloth) and 風 (wind) abbreviated, reflecting the object. The reading たこ is of uncertain origin, possibly related to 蛸 (octopus) due to the shape of traditional kites, but this is speculative.