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瓦 (かわら, kawara) Japanese meaning: roof tile | Kotomora

瓦かわら

か

わ

ら

Common word›JLPTN2›Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

roof tile; tile

Refers to traditional clay roof tiles, but can also be used for modern roofing tiles.

この家いえの屋や根ねは瓦かわらでできている。

The roof of this house is made of tiles.

Usage patterns

〈場ば所しょ〉に瓦かわらを葺ふくto lay/tile a roof with roof tiles
古ふるい家いえの屋や根ねに瓦かわらを葺ふいた。
They tiled the roof of the old house with roof tiles.
瓦かわらが割われるfor a roof tile to crack/break
地じ震しんで屋や根ねの瓦かわらが割われた。
The roof tiles cracked in the earthquake.
瓦かわらを焼やくto fire/bake roof tiles
この地ち域いきでは昔むかしから瓦かわらを焼やいている。
Roof tiles have been fired in this region since long ago.

Kanji

瓦tile, gram

Related words

タイルN1
瓦 refers specifically to traditional Japanese roof tiles, while タイル is the broader loanword for tiles used on floors, walls, and other surfaces.

Don't confuse with

煉れん瓦がN2
瓦 is a fired-clay tile used to cover a roof, while 煉瓦 is a fired-clay brick used to build walls.

Counted with

枚まいN3
Roof tiles are flat objects, counted with 枚 (瓦一枚).

Word family· 27

瓦かわら葺ぶき
tile roofing; roof tiling
鬼おに瓦がわら
decorative ridge-end tile with a demon face · hideous face; scary face
丸まる瓦がわら
convex roof tile
巴ともえ瓦がわら
comma-pattern tile

Written forms

瓦かわらUsage89%
Standard kanji spelling for roof tile.
かわらUsage7%
カワラUsage4%

Etymology

The kanji 瓦 originally depicted a roof tile. The reading かわら is a native Japanese word.

平ひら瓦がわら

concave roof tile; flat tile

Show 6 more

桟さん瓦がわら
pantile
棟むな瓦がわら
ridge tile
洋よう瓦がわら
Western-style roof tile
牝め瓦がわら
concave roof tile
牡お瓦がわら
convex roof tile
瓦かわら家や
tile-roofed house

See all 27 in Explore →