櫂かい

か

い

Freq.FrequencyTop 1,000

Meanings

Refers to a paddle or oar used for rowing or paddling a boat. 櫂 is the standard term, distinct from オール (oar) which is often used for Western-style rowing.

彼かれは櫂かいで水みずをかいた。
He paddled the water with an oar.
ボートに櫂かいを忘わすれてきた。
I forgot the oars for the boat.

See all 6 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

櫂かいで〈物もの〉を漕こぐto row/paddle (a boat) with an oar
彼かれは櫂かいで小こ舟ぶねを漕こいだ。
He paddled the small boat with an oar.
〈人ひと〉が櫂かいを握にぎるfor someone to grip/hold the oar
船せん頭どうが櫂かいをしっかり握にぎった。
The boatman gripped the oar firmly.

Kanji

櫂oar, scull, paddle

Related words

オール
オール is a loanword for a Western-style rowing oar, while 櫂 is the native Japanese term for a paddle or oar used more broadly, including in traditional boats.
櫓ろ
櫓 is a single oar fixed in a stern oarlock and moved in a figure-eight sculling motion, while 櫂 is a free-held paddle used for simple paddling strokes.

Don't confuse with

櫓ろ
櫓 is a larger sculling oar mounted on the stern and worked with a twisting wrist motion, whereas 櫂 is a handheld paddle used for direct strokes.

Counted with

丁ちょう
Used for 櫂 (oars) as long, slender tools.
本ほんN5
Used because a 櫂 (oar) is a long, stick-like object.

Word family

櫓ろ櫂かい
sculls and paddles
打うち櫂がい
type of oar

Written forms

櫂かいUsage97%
Standard kanji spelling for 'paddle/oar'.
カイUsage3%

Etymology

The kanji 櫂 is a phono-semantic compound with 木 (tree/wood) and 翟 (a phonetic component). The reading かい is a native Japanese word (kun'yomi) of uncertain origin.