Meanings Jump to a sense… 1. pattern; design 2. body build; figure; physique 3. character; nature; essential qualities 4. by nature of; in keeping with; appropriate to Usage patterns 〈 物もの 〉 に 柄がら がある for something to have a pattern or design
This shirt has a floral pattern.
柄がら が 大おお きい ／ 小ちい さい to have a large or small build
He has such a large build that suits don't fit him well.
柄がら が 悪わる い to have a rough or unrefined character (of a person or place)
That shop gets a lot of rough-mannered customers.
〈 事こと 〉 柄がら 、 〜 owing to the nature of ~; given that it's ~
Because of the nature of my job, I don't get many days off.
柄がら が 〈 形けい 容よう 詞し 〉 for a pattern/design to be (a certain way), e.g. flashy or plain
This dress has a flashy pattern.
Expressions 柄がら にもない out of character; unlike one 柄がら にもなく out of character; unlike one Related words· 6 模様 is the general word for a pattern or design, while 柄 is used specifically for patterns on cloth, paper, or other surfaces and appears as a suffix like 花柄 .
体格 is the neutral, direct word for physical build, while 柄 conveys the same idea mainly in set phrases like 大柄 and 小柄 .
性格 refers specifically to a person's personality, while 柄 can describe the general nature or social tone of a person, place, or group.
柄 is the everyday, casual word for a pattern (e.g. on clothes), while 絵柄 sounds slightly more descriptive and is common for printed or drawn designs.
Show 2 more Show fewer 柄 is the casual word for a pattern on cloth or objects, whereas 文様 is more formal and typically used in artistic or historical contexts.
柄 is a casual, everyday word for pattern (as on clothing), while 図柄 sounds a bit more formal and is often used for printed or artistic motifs.
Don't confuse with Written identically, 柄 read え means a handle or stalk, but 柄 read がら means a pattern or design, so context and pronunciation must distinguish them.
ガラ (a gala event, from French) is unrelated to 柄 (がら , meaning pattern, build, or character) despite sharing the same pronunciation.
Word family· 55 pattern; design
brand; make; label · stock issue; security; trading name
personality; character; personal appearance; gentility
matter; thing; affair; circumstance
small build; petite; small stature · small pattern; fine pattern
Show 23 more Show fewer achievement; feat; distinguished service
one's person; one's body; the person (of someone)
relationship; relation; terms
family background; lineage; social standing of a family · good family; distinguished family background
role; part; character
large build; big-framed · large pattern; bold design
design; pattern
national character; regional character
new pattern; new design
patterned cloth; patterned fabric
day's luck; auspiciousness of a day
crop condition; harvest; yield · quality of an artistic work; workmanship; level of execution
family relationship; kinship
flower pattern; floral design
world conditions; the times
medium size; medium pattern; medium stature
traditional Japanese pattern; traditional Japanese design
quality; grade; nature
state of mind; disposition; nature
character of a place; atmosphere of a location
cow-spot pattern; cow-skin pattern
unusual pattern; novel design
arrow shaft · cornetfish
See all 55 in Explore →
Written forms 柄がら Usage 91%
Standard high-priority kanji spelling for がら , used across the main senses: pattern, build, character, and suffix-like uses.
がら Usage 7%
ガラ Usage 2%
search-only kana form
Attested katakana search form, especially noted for the character or nature sense, as in ガラが悪い ; 柄 is the normal dictionary spelling.
Etymology The historical derivation of がら is uncertain. The kanji 柄 is conventionally used for these related notions of pattern, build, and inherent character, but this spelling note should not be taken as a precise origin explanation.
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