塚
Meanings
A raised mound or heap of earth, stones, or similar material. Often refers to a small natural or artificial rise rather than a large hill.
A mound of earth had formed in the corner of the garden.
burial mound; tomb; tumulus; gravesite
Used for a mound associated with burial or memorializing the dead. It can refer to an old tumulus, a grave mound, or a small memorial grave site.
An old burial mound remains on the edge of the village.
This mound is said to be the tomb of an old warrior.
standing stone; stone signpost; roadside stone statue
A less common use for a stone marker or roadside stone object, such as a standing stone, signpost, or small stone statue. Modern readers may understand this mainly from older descriptions or local historical contexts.
In old local records, a roadside stone statue is sometimes called a tsuka.
Usage patterns
- 〈人〉が塚に眠るfor someone to rest eternally in a mound (be buried there)
An old warlord rests in this mound.
- 塚を盛るto pile up earth into a mound
The villagers piled up a mound for the war dead.
- 塚が立つfor a stone marker or roadside monument to stand
An old stone marker stands by the roadside on the mountain pass.
Expressions
- 塚を築くpile up a mound; build a tumulus