Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
原っぱ (はらっぱ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N1 Freq. Frequency Top 100,000 Meanings 1
noun
open field ; empty lot ; plain
A casual, everyday word for an open grassy area or vacant lot, often used by children or in informal contexts. The っぱ ending gives it a familiar, slightly childish feel.
家いえ
の
裏うら
に
小ちい
さな
原はら
っぱ
が
ある
。
There is a small empty lot behind the house.
Written forms 原はら っぱ Usage 70%
Standard kanji-kana spelling; the suffix っぱ adds a casual, slightly childish or familiar tone.
はらっぱ Usage 30%
Kana spelling is common in children's books and casual writing.
Kanji 原 meadow, original, primitive Similar words 野の 原はら 野原 is a more neutral, standard word for 'field' or 'meadow', while 原っぱ is casual and often implies a smaller, less cultivated area.
空あ き 地ち 空き地 specifically means 'vacant lot' (often in a residential area), whereas 原っぱ can refer to any open grassy space, including natural fields.
Etymology Derived from 原 (はら, 'field') with the suffix っぱ, which adds a casual, familiar, or slightly childish nuance. The exact origin of っぱ is uncertain, but it is a common colloquial suffix in Japanese.