浮うき彫ぼり

う

き

ぼ

り

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

relief; embossed carving

Refers to a sculptural technique where figures project from a flat background, or the resulting artwork. Also used attributively with の.

この寺じ院いんの壁かべには美うつくしい浮うき彫ぼりが施ほどこされている。
The walls of this temple are decorated with beautiful relief carvings.
浮う

き

彫ぼ

り

の

技ぎ

法ほう

は

古こ

代だい

から

使つか

わ

れ

て

き

た

。

The relief technique has been used since ancient times.

2

noun

bringing to the fore; highlighting; throwing into relief

Figurative use: making something stand out clearly, often problems, contrasts, or characteristics. Common in phrases like 浮き彫りにする or 浮き彫りになる.

今こん回かいの事じ件けんは、制せい度どの問もん題だい点てんを浮うき彫ぼりにした。
This incident highlighted the problems with the system.
両りょう者しゃの違ちがいが浮うき彫ぼりになった。
The differences between the two became clear.

Written forms

浮うき彫ぼりUsage83%
Standard spelling; the okurigana き makes the reading clear.
浮うき彫ぼりUsage10%
Shortest variant; rare and mostly found in older or compact contexts.
浮うき彫ぼりUsage7%
Variant without the okurigana き; still common and readable.
浮うき彫ぼり
Abbreviated spelling; less common and may be harder to read.

Kanji

浮floating, float, rise to surface
彫carve, engrave, chisel

Similar words

レリーフ
Loanword from English 'relief', used specifically for the art technique. 浮き彫り is the native Japanese term and also carries the figurative sense.
際きわ立だたせる
A verb meaning 'to make something stand out'. 浮き彫りにする is more about revealing or exposing something clearly, often with a nuance of contrast or problem.

Etymology

Compound of 浮き (uki, 'floating') + 彫り (hori, 'carving'). Literally 'floating carving', referring to the raised effect of relief sculpture. The figurative sense developed from the idea of making something stand out from its background.