くちなし

Written forms

• くちなしUsage25%

  The word is usually written in kana. This is the most common and learner-friendly spelling.

• クチナシUsage44%
  kana-only spelling

  Katakana spelling, often used in botanical contexts or for emphasis.

• 梔子Usage31%iUsage for this spelling across all readings, not one reading alone.
  • くちなし

    Kanji spelling, rarely used in everyday writing. The reading しし is obsolete.

  • しし

    out-dated reading
• 山梔子Usage1%iUsage for this spelling across all readings, not one reading alone.
  • くちなし

    Alternative kanji spelling, very rare. The reading さんしし is obsolete.

  • さんしし

    out-dated reading
• しし
  out-dated reading
• さんしし
  out-dated reading
• 巵子
  • しし

    out-dated reading
  • くちなし
• 梔くちなし

Etymology

The name くちなし (kuchinashi) literally means 'without a mouth', referring to the fruit that does not split open when ripe. The kanji 梔子 is a Chinese borrowing.