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かぶし Japanese meaning | Kotomora

かぶし

Meanings

1

noun

shape of one's head

archaicusually written using kana alone

Archaic noun referring to the shape or form of a person's head. Not used in modern Japanese; encountered only in historical texts.

古こ文ぶん書しょには「かぶしのよき者もの」といった表ひょう現げんが見みられる。
In old documents, expressions like 'a person with a good head shape' can be found.

Kanji

頭head, counter for large animals

Similar words

頭あたま
Modern common word for 'head'; かぶし is an archaic term specifically for the shape of the head.
頭あたま
Can mean 'head' or 'leader'; かぶし is unrelated and refers only to head shape in archaic usage.

Etymology

The exact derivation is uncertain; it is an archaic term that fell out of use, and the kanji 頭 is likely a later association rather than a direct etymological spelling.