駒
Meanings
1
game piece; chess piece; shogi piece
Refers to a piece used in board games such as shogi, chess, or go. The specific type depends on context.
I set up the shogi pieces.
There are 32 chess pieces in total.
2
horse; foal
archaic
Archaic word for a horse or foal. In modern Japanese, 馬 (うま) is the standard term.
In classical Japanese, 駒 meant a horse.
3
bridge (of a string instrument)
The small wooden piece that supports the strings on a violin, shamisen, etc.
The bridge of the violin has shifted.
Usage patterns
- 〈相手〉の駒を取るto capture an opponent's piece
I captured my opponent's piece and gained the advantage.
- 駒を打つto place/play a piece (in shogi)
He thought for a while before placing his piece.
- 駒を並べるto set up/line up the game pieces
We lined up the pieces before the match.
Expressions
- 瓢箪から駒something unexpected happening; a joke becoming reality; a horse from a gourd (lit.) · something impossible; something ridiculous
- 駒を動かすmake a move; move a piece
- 駒を進めるadvance to the next stage
- 瓢箪から駒が出るsomething unexpected happening; a joke becoming reality · something impossible; something ridiculous