ヒイラギ

also: ひらぎ

ヒ

イ

ラ

ギ

Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

noun

holly olive; false holly

usually written using kana alone

Refers to the plant Osmanthus heterophyllus, a shrub with holly-like leaves. Often used in hedges and as a decorative plant. Not a true holly (Ilex).

庭にわにヒイラギを植うえた。
I planted a holly olive in the garden.
ヒイラギの葉ははとげがある。
Holly olive leaves have spines.

noun

holly (mistranslation)

usually written using kana alone

Common mistranslation for English 'holly' (Ilex). True holly is 西洋柊 (せいようひいらぎ). This sense is included for awareness; avoid using ヒイラギ for Ilex unless context clarifies.

Usage patterns

節せつ分ぶんに柊ひいらぎを飾かざるto display holly branches for the Setsubun festival
節せつ分ぶんには柊ひいらぎを飾かざって鬼おにを追おい払はらう。
At Setsubun, people display holly branches to drive away demons.

Kanji

柊holly
疼ache, pain, tingle
木tree, wood

Don't confuse with

セイヨウヒイラギ sense 1
柊 (ヒイラギ) usually refers to Osmanthus heterophyllus, a holly-like shrub, while 西洋柊 is true holly (Ilex aquifolium) used for Christmas decorations.
コノシロ sense 3
The kanji 鮗 is normally read このしろ for a different fish, so seeing it does not automatically mean the spotnape ponyfish sense of 柊 (ヒイラギ).

Counted with

本ほんN5
For long, thin objects (sticks, stems, wires, bottles); also 'pieces' like films, articles, and phone calls.
株かぶN2
For rooted plants and clumps — garden plants, shrubs, seedlings.

Word family

柊ひいらぎ菜な
mizuna; Brassica rapa var. nipposinica
柊ひいらぎ鰯いわし
holly and sardine charm
柊ひいらぎ南なん天てん
Japanese mahonia; Mahonia japonica
セイヨウヒイラギ
English holly; Ilex aquifolium

Written forms

ヒイラギUsage32%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is common for the plant and fish names; the word is usually written in kana.
柊Usage57%
- ひいらぎ
  Kanji form used especially for the plant; also read ひらぎ in some contexts.
- ひらぎ
  Alternate reading of the kanji 柊, less common.
ひいらぎUsage11%
Hiragana spelling, also common.
疼木ひいらぎ
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
柊木ひいらぎ
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
ひらぎ

Etymology

The origin of the word ひいらぎ is uncertain. It may be related to the verb ひいらぐ (to sting), referring to the spiny leaves. The kanji 柊 is a kokuji (Japanese-created character) combining 木 (tree) and 冬 (winter), as it is an evergreen that stands out in winter.