細ささら

prefix

small; fine; little

Prefix used to indicate something is small, fine, or delicate. Usually written in kana. The reading さざら is a rare voiced variant.

• ささら波なみが立たつ湖こ面めん。

  A lake surface with small ripples.

• ささら雪ゆきが降ふっている。

  Fine snow is falling.

noun

fine pattern

Only with reading ささら

Archaic noun meaning a fine or delicate pattern. Restricted to the reading ささら. Cross-referenced with 細形.

See also: 細形

• 古こ文ぶん書しょには「細ささら」を細こまかい模も様ようの意いで用もちいた例れいがある。

  In old documents, there are examples where 細ら is used to mean a fine pattern.

noun

pebble

Only with reading さざれ

Abbreviation of 細石 (さざれいし), meaning a small stone or pebble. Restricted to the reading さざれ. Often appears in the compound さざれ石.

See also: さざれ石

• さざれ石いしが庭にわに敷しき詰つめられている。

  Pebbles are laid out in the garden.

• 国こっ歌か「君きみが代よ」に「さざれ石いしの巌いわおとなりて」とある。

  The national anthem 'Kimigayo' includes the phrase 'さざれ石の巌となりて' (pebbles grow into a boulder).