拾い
ひ
ろ
い
Meanings
1
picking up; gathering; person who picks things up
Refers to the act of picking up or gathering things, or a person who does so. Often used in compounds like 落ち葉拾い (gathering fallen leaves) or 貝拾い (shell gathering).
The children enjoyed shell gathering on the beach.
He was picking up small change on the roadside.
2
type-picking
Printing term: the process of picking individual type pieces for composition. Cross-referenced with 文選.
See also: 文選
In letterpress printing, a type-picker performs type-picking.
3
Honorific usage, typically with the prefix お (お拾い). Used to refer to someone's walking in a respectful manner.
I met you while you were out walking.
Usage patterns
- 〈物〉拾いをするto pick up/gather ~ (e.g. trash, shells, fallen leaves)
I picked up trash in the park.
- お拾いになるto walk (honorific, referring respectfully to someone's walking)
The president walked slowly (honorific expression).