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尺八 (shakuhachi) Japanese meaning: shakuhachi | Kotomora

尺しゃく八はち

しゃ

く

は

ち

Common word›Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

shakuhachi; end-blown bamboo flute

A traditional Japanese fippleless bamboo flute, typically played by blowing across the end opening. Used as an ordinary noun for the instrument.

祖そ父ふは毎まい朝あさ、尺しゃく八はちを吹ふく。

My grandfather plays the shakuhachi every morning.

尺しゃく八はちの音ね色いろが静しずかな部屋へやに響ひびいた。

The tone of the shakuhachi echoed through the quiet room.

2

fellatio; blow job

slang›vulgar expression or word

Sexually explicit slang. Avoid in polite or neutral conversation unless deliberately using vulgar language.

俗ぞく語ごでは、尺しゃく八はちがフェラチオの意い味みで使つかわれることがある。
In slang, 尺八 is sometimes used to mean fellatio.

Usage patterns

尺しゃく八はちを吹ふくto play (blow) the shakuhachi
祖そ父ふは毎まい晩ばん縁えん側がわで尺しゃく八はちを吹ふいている。
My grandfather plays the shakuhachi on the porch every evening.
尺しゃく八はちを習ならうto learn/study the shakuhachi
大だい学がくのサークルで尺しゃく八はちを習ならい始はじめた。
I started learning the shakuhachi in a university club.

Kanji

尺shaku, Japanese foot, measure
八eight, eight radical (no. 12)

Related words

笛ふえN3sense 1
笛 is the general word for any flute or whistle, while 尺八 names specifically the traditional Japanese end-blown bamboo flute.
フェラチオ sense 2
フェラチオ is the neutral clinical term for fellatio, while 尺八 is crude slang for the same act, evoking the shape of the blown instrument.
フルート sense 1
フルート refers to the Western concert flute, whereas 尺八 is the Japanese bamboo flute with a distinct blowing technique and traditional repertoire.

Counted with

本ほんN5
For long, thin objects (sticks, stems, wires, bottles); also 'pieces' like films, articles, and phone calls.
管かんN3
尺八 (shakuhachi) can be counted with 管 because it's shaped like a tube, but 本 is the more natural counter when referring to it as a musical instrument.

Etymology

尺 means a traditional unit of length, and 八 means eight; the instrument name is commonly explained as referring to a length of one shaku and eight sun. The vulgar slang sense is likely an extension from the idea of blowing a flute.