冠かんむり

noun

crown; diadem; coronet

General term for a crown or ornamental headpiece worn by monarchs or deities. Also used metaphorically.

• 王おうは重おもい冠かんむりをかぶっていた。

  The king wore a heavy crown.

noun

top kanji radical

Only with reading かんむり

In kanji studies, refers to the 'crown' radical (かんむり), the component that sits at the top of a character, e.g., 宀 (うかんむり) or 艹 (くさかんむり).

• 「安あん」の上うえの部ぶ分ぶんは「うかんむり」という冠かんむりです。

  The top part of 安 is a radical called 'u-kanmuri'.

noun

first verse (haikai)

Only with reading かむり

Rare poetic term for the opening verse of a haikai or similar linked-verse form. Read かむり.

See also: 俳諧

• 俳はい諧かいでは、最さい初しょの句くを冠かむりと呼よぶことがある。

  In haikai, the first verse is sometimes called 'kamuri'.

taru-adjective, adverb taking the 'to' particle

best; peerless; first

Only with reading かん

Literary, old-fashioned adjective/adverb meaning 'the very best' or 'unrivaled'. Used with たる or と, e.g., 冠たる作品. Read かん.

• 彼かれは当とう代だい冠かんたる詩し人じんだ。

  He is the peerless poet of our time.

noun

name; title; named sponsorship

Only with reading かんむり

Used for the name or title of a program, event, team, etc., especially when a sponsor's name is attached, as in 冠番組 (sponsored program) or 冠大会 (title-sponsored tournament). Read かんむり.

• この番ばん組ぐみは企き業ぎょうの冠かんむりがついている。

  This program carries a corporate sponsor's name.

counter

counter for titles (shogi)

Only with reading かん

In shogi, used to count the number of titles a player holds, e.g., 二冠 (two titles). Read かん.

• 彼かれは現げん在ざい三さん冠かんを保ほ持じしている。

  He currently holds three titles.