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波頭 (なみがしら) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

波なみ頭がしら

also: はとう

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Meanings

1

noun

wave crest; whitecaps

Refers to the top of a wave, often with white foam; used in both literal and figurative contexts.

強つよい風かぜで波なみ頭がしらが白しろく砕くだけている。
The strong wind is making the wave crests break white.
遠とおくの海うみにいくつもの波なみ頭がしらが見みえた。
We could see many whitecaps far out at sea.

Written forms

波頭Usage100%
- なみがしら
  Standard kanji form; the reading なみがしら is the most common.
- はとう
  Alternate reading はとう, less common and somewhat literary.

はとう

Kanji

波waves, billows, Poland
頭head, counter for large animals

Similar words

波なみ
波 is the general word for 'wave'; 波頭 specifically refers to the crest or the white-capped part of a wave.
白しら波なみ
白波 also means 'whitecaps' or 'white-crested waves', but focuses on the white appearance rather than the shape of the crest.

Etymology

Compound of 波 (nami, 'wave') + 頭 (kashira, 'head'), literally 'wave head'. The reading はとう is the on'yomi version, used in more formal or literary contexts.