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波止場 (はとば) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

波止場はとば

は

と

ば

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

noun

wharf; quay; pier; jetty

Refers to a structure where ships dock to load and unload cargo or passengers. Common in port and harbor contexts.

船ふねが波止場はとばに着ついた。
The ship arrived at the wharf.
波止場はとばで釣つりをしている人ひとがいる。
There are people fishing on the pier.

Written forms

波止場はとばUsage100%
Standard kanji spelling; commonly used in news and official contexts.
波は戸と場ば
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; learners may encounter it in older texts or place names.

Kanji

波waves, billows, Poland

止stop, halt

場location, place

戸door, counter for houses, door radical (no. 63)

Similar words

埠ふ頭とう
埠頭 is a more formal or technical term for a pier or wharf, often used in official documents and port facility names. 波止場 is a common, everyday word.
桟さん橋ばし
桟橋 typically refers to a wooden pier or landing stage, often smaller in scale. 波止場 can refer to larger, more solid structures.

Etymology

Compound of 波 (wave) + 止 (stop) + 場 (place), literally 'wave-stopping place'. The kanji 波止 is a jukujikun reading for はと, and 場 is read as ば. The alternative form 波戸場 uses 戸 (door/gate) instead of 止, possibly reflecting a different historical interpretation.