波止場はとば

は

と

ば

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

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.

See all 10 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉が波は止と場ばに着つくfor a ship to arrive at the wharf
船ふねが波止場はとばに着ついた。
The ship arrived at the wharf.
波は止と場ばで〈人ひと〉を見み送おくるto see someone off at the wharf
波止場はとばで友ゆう人じんを見み送おくった。
I saw my friend off at the wharf.
波は止と場ばに立たつto stand on the wharf (often looking out at the sea)
彼かれは一人ひとりで波止場はとばに立たち、海うみを見みていた。
He stood alone on the wharf, gazing at the sea.

Kanji

波waves, billows, Poland
止stop, halt
場location, place
戸door, counter for houses, door radical (no. 63)

Related words

埠ふ頭とう
埠頭 is a more formal or technical term for a pier or wharf used in official documents and port names, while 波止場 is the everyday word for the same kind of structure.
桟さん橋ばしN1
桟橋 usually refers to a smaller, often wooden landing stage, whereas 波止場 can describe a larger, more solid harbor structure.
港みなとN4
波止場 refers specifically to a wharf or pier area within a port and has a slightly old-fashioned, literary feel compared to the plain 港.
岸がん壁ぺき
波止場 is a slightly old-fashioned, more everyday word for a harbor wharf, while 岸壁 is the more technical or official term for the same kind of structure.

Built from

波は止と+場ば

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.

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.