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打ち出の小槌 (うちでのこづち) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

打うち出での小こ槌づち

う

ち

で

の

こ

づ

ち

Meanings

1

noun

magic mallet; lucky mallet

A small mallet from Japanese folklore, often associated with the story of Issun-bōshi, that grants wishes when shaken.

一いっ寸すん法師ぼうしは打うち出での小こ槌づちで大おおきくなった。
Issun-bōshi grew big with the magic mallet.
打うち出での小こ槌づちがあれば何なんで

も

願ねが

い

が

叶かな

う

と

言い

わ

れ

て

いる

。

It is said that if you have the lucky mallet, any wish will come true.

Written forms

打うち出での小こ槌づち
Standard kanji spelling for the magical mallet from Japanese folklore.
打うち出での小こ槌づち
Variant with simplified first character; less common but still seen.

Kanji

打strike, hit, knock
出exit, leave, go out
小little, small
槌hammer, mallet

Etymology

The name literally means 'small mallet that brings forth', from 打ち出 (uchide, 'striking out' or 'producing') and 小槌 (kozuchi, 'small mallet'). The exact origin of the folktale motif is uncertain, but it is a well-known element in Japanese fairy tales.