noun
General word for a point in time or a particular moment, often used in set phrases like その節 (on that occasion).
その節は大変お世話になりました。
Thank you very much for your help on that occasion.
お忙しい節に申し訳ありません。
I'm sorry to bother you when you are busy.
noun
section; passage; paragraph; verse; stanza
Used for a division within a written work, piece of music, or poem. Can refer to a chapter, paragraph, verse, or stanza depending on context.
この節を読んで、感想を聞かせてください。
Please read this passage and tell me your thoughts.
次の節からは、新しいテーマに入ります。
From the next section, we will move on to a new topic.
noun
Grammatical term for a clause within a sentence.
この文は、主節と従属節から成り立っている。
This sentence consists of a main clause and a subordinate clause.
noun
Used for a period of the year, such as a season or a specific term. Often appears in compounds like 節分 (setsubun) or 季節 (kisetsu).
この節は、果物が一番おいしい。
This season, fruit is at its most delicious.
節の変わり目は体調を崩しやすい。
It's easy to get sick at the change of seasons.
noun
principles; integrity
Refers to one's moral backbone or steadfastness. Common in expressions like 節を曲げる (compromise one's principles) or 節のある人 (a person of integrity).
彼はどんな状況でも節を曲げない。
He never compromises his principles, no matter the situation.
あの人は節のある立派な人物だ。
That person is a fine individual with integrity.
noun
Botanical term for the joint on a stem where leaves or branches arise.
茎の節から新しい芽が出ている。
A new bud is sprouting from the node of the stem.
noun
In biological taxonomy, a rank below genus and above species; used in botany.
この植物は、バラ属の節に分類される。
This plant is classified in a section of the genus Rosa.
noun
Unit of speed used in navigation, equal to one nautical mile per hour. Often written in katakana as ノット.
See also: ノット
船は20節の速さで進んでいる。
The ship is moving at a speed of 20 knots.
Common word for 'season'; 節 alone can also mean season but is less common in everyday speech.
Specifically means 'paragraph'; 節 can mean paragraph but more broadly refers to any section or passage.
The kanji 節 originally depicts a bamboo joint, symbolizing a node or division. Its meanings extended to 'section', 'season', 'principle' (as a moral joint), and other segmented concepts. The reading せつ is the Sino-Japanese on'yomi.