羽根
Meanings
Refers to the feathers of birds, including down feathers. Used in both singular and collective senses.
A bird's feather was lying on the ground.
This futon is filled with a lot of down.
Refers to the wing of a bird or insect. Can be used for both the whole wing and the flight feathers.
The bird spread its wings and took off.
blade (of a fan, propeller, etc.)
Only when written 羽根
Used for the blades of fans, propellers, turbines, and similar mechanical parts. Often written as 羽根 in this sense.
The blades of the electric fan are spinning.
Only with reading はね
Specifically the shuttlecock used in badminton. Reading is はね.
See also: シャトル
The badminton shuttlecock got caught in the net.
Only when written 羽根
The shuttlecock used in the traditional Japanese game hanetsuki. Also written as 羽子. Kanji form is 羽根.
See also: 羽子 (はご)
We played hanetsuki with a shuttlecock during the New Year.
arrow feathers
Only when written 羽根
The feathers attached to an arrow for stabilization. Kanji form is 羽根.
See also: 矢羽 (やばね)
Adjust the direction of the arrow feathers.
Usage patterns
- 〈物〉に羽根をつけるto attach feathers to (an arrow)
They attach feathers to the arrow to make it fly more easily.
- 羽根が抜けるfor feathers to fall out
The little bird's feathers fell out.
- 羽根が回るfor the blades (of a fan, propeller, etc.) to spin
The fan's blades are spinning at full speed.
- 羽根をつくto hit the shuttlecock (in hanetsuki)
We played by hitting the shuttlecock during New Year's.
- 羽根を打つto hit the shuttlecock (in badminton)
Hit the shuttlecock with the racket.