どんぐり

ど

ん

ぐ

り

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

acorn

usually written using kana alone

The nut of an oak tree; commonly encountered in children's stories, crafts, and as animal food.

リスがどんぐりを食たべている。

A squirrel is eating an acorn.

どんぐりを拾ひろうto pick up/gather acorns
公こう園えんでどんぐりをたくさん拾ひろった。
I picked up a lot of acorns at the park.
どんぐりが落おちるfor acorns to fall (from a tree)
秋あきになると木きからどんぐりが落おちる。
When autumn comes, acorns fall from the trees.

栗くりN1
栗 (くり) is a chestnut, larger and eaten by people, while 団栗 (どんぐり) is a small oak nut that humans generally don't eat.

個こN5
団栗 is most commonly counted with 個 (こ) as a small object.
粒つぶN2
団栗 can also be counted with 粒 (つぶ), emphasizing its small, round, seed-like shape.

どんぐりUsage55%
Standard kana spelling; the word is usually written in kana.
ドングリUsage41%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling, often used in botanical or children's contexts.
団栗どんぐりUsage4%
ateji (phonetic kanji usage)rarely-used kanji form
Ateji kanji form; rarely used.

The origin is uncertain, but it may be related to 団 (どん, round) and 栗 (くり, chestnut), referring to its round chestnut-like shape.

橡どんぐり

rarely-used kanji form

Rare kanji form; can also be read くぬぎ or つるばみ in other contexts.