木綿
also: きわた
Meanings
1
Refers to cotton as a fabric or material, not the plant itself.
This shirt is made of cotton.
I bought a cotton handkerchief.
2
red silk-cotton tree (Bombax ceiba)
usually written using kana alone
Only with reading きわた
A tree species; usually written in kana as きわた. The reading もめん is not used for this sense.
See also: パンヤの木
The flowers of the red silk-cotton tree are red and large.
Usage patterns
- 木綿の〈物〉a cotton ~ (item made of cotton fabric)
In summer, a cotton shirt feels cool and comfortable.
- 木綿を織るto weave cotton (into cloth)
My grandmother still weaves cotton by hand.