beautiful passage; fine verse; excellent phrase
Refers to a particularly well-crafted line or passage in poetry or prose. Often used in literary criticism or appreciation.
この詩には佳句がいくつも見られる。
Many beautiful passages can be found in this poem.
Basho composed many fine verses during his travels.
This passage has long been known as a fine piece of verse.
Over his lifetime, he left behind several fine verses for future generations.
名句 tends to describe a phrase that has become famous or widely quoted, while 佳句 simply praises the craftsmanship of a line without implying fame.
名文 refers to an entire piece of excellent writing, while 佳句 focuses on a single outstanding phrase or verse.
拙句 describes a clumsy or unpolished verse, the opposite of the refined, well-crafted 佳句.
Compound of 佳 (excellent, beautiful) and 句 (phrase, verse). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination has been used in classical Chinese and Japanese literary contexts.