和わ紙し

also: わがみ

わ

し

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

washi; traditional Japanese paper

Handmade paper using traditional Japanese methods, often from kozo, mitsumata, or gampi fibers. Contrasts with 洋紙 (Western-style paper).

See also: 洋紙

和わ紙しは丈じょう夫ぶで美うつくしいので、書しょ道どうや折おり紙がみによく使つかわれる。
Washi is strong and beautiful, so it is often used for calligraphy and origami.
この店みせでは手て作づくりの和わ紙しを販はん売ばいしている。
This shop sells handmade washi.

See all 74 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉を和わ紙しで包つつむto wrap something in washi paper
贈おくり物ものを和わ紙しで包つつんだ。
I wrapped the gift in washi paper.
和わ紙しに書かくto write (esp. with a brush) on washi
書しょ道どうの先せん生せいは和わ紙しに美うつくしい文も字じを書かいた。
The calligraphy teacher wrote beautiful characters on washi.
和わ紙しで作つくった〈物もの〉something made of washi
和わ紙しで作つくった提灯ちょうちんが部屋へやを明あかるく照てらしていた。
A lantern made of washi paper lit up the room.

Kanji

和harmony, Japanese style, peace
紙paper

Related words

日本にほん紙し
和紙 is the everyday word for traditional Japanese paper, while 日本紙 is a rarer, more formal or explanatory synonym for the same thing.

Opposites

洋よう紙し
和紙 is traditional Japanese handmade paper from plant fibers, while 洋紙 is Western-style, machine-made wood-pulp paper.

Counted with

枚まいN3
For thin, flat things — sheets, plates, boards, and unstructured garments like shirts.
帖じょう
帖 is used to count 和紙 in bundles or by standard paper size, though 枚 is the more common counter in general use.

Word family

和わ紙しテープ
washi tape; Japanese paper tape

Written forms

和紙Usage100%
- わし
  Standard kanji spelling; the reading わし is the most common.
- わがみ
  Alternate reading わがみ is rarely used; わし is strongly preferred.
わがみ

Etymology

和 (wa, 'Japanese') + 紙 (shi, 'paper'). The reading わし is a standard compound reading; わがみ is a less common kun'yomi-based reading.