also: かん · かむり · かんぶり
noun
traditional court cap; Shinto clergy cap
Refers to a specific type of formal headgear worn by Shinto priests and courtiers in historical contexts. Often seen in compounds like 衣冠 or 束帯.
神職は儀式の際に冠を着用する。
Shinto priests wear a traditional cap during ceremonies.
noun
General term for a crown or ornamental headpiece worn by monarchs or deities. Also used metaphorically.
王は重い冠をかぶっていた。
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」の上の部分は「うかんむり」という冠です。
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
俳諧では、最初の句を冠と呼ぶことがある。
In haikai, the first verse is sometimes called 'kamuri'.
taru-adjective, adverb taking the 'to' particle
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.
彼は当代冠たる詩人だ。
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.
この番組は企業の冠がついている。
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.
彼は現在三冠を保持している。
He currently holds three titles.