言ことの葉は

also: ことのえ

こ

と

の

は

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

noun

word; language; poetic expression

poetical term

Poetic term for words or language, often with a lyrical or elegant nuance. Used in classical contexts and modern poetic writing.

言ことの葉はに思おもいを込こめて、歌うたを詠よむ。
I compose a poem, putting my feelings into words.
彼かの女じょの言ことの葉はは、まるで花はなのように美うつくしかった。
Her words were as beautiful as flowers.

noun

waka; classic Japanese poem (esp. tanka)

archaic

Archaic term specifically for waka poetry, especially tanka. Not used in modern everyday language.

Kanji

言say, word
葉leaf, plane, lobe

Related words

言こと葉ば
言葉 is the standard, everyday word for 'word' or 'language'. 言の葉 is a poetic, literary variant with a more elegant and classical feel.
和わ歌か
和歌 is the standard modern term for classic Japanese poetry. 言の葉 in its archaic sense refers specifically to waka, but is now obsolete.

Word family

大和やまと言ことの葉は
native Japanese word; word of Japanese origin · waka; classic Japanese poem

Written forms

言の葉Usage92%
- ことのは
  Standard kanji spelling for this poetic word.
- ことのえ
  Archaic reading; rarely used in modern Japanese.
ことのはUsage8%
Kana spelling is common in modern usage, especially when the poetic nuance is not emphasized.
ことのえ

Etymology

Compound of 言 (koto, 'word') + の (no, possessive particle) + 葉 (ha, 'leaf'), literally 'leaves of words'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the metaphor of words as leaves is a common poetic device in classical Japanese.