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穂首 (ほくび, hokubi) Japanese meaning: ear of rice | Kotomora

穂ほ首くび

ほ

く

び

Meanings

1

ear of rice; head of a rice plant; spike

Refers specifically to the grain-bearing part at the top of a rice stalk. Used in agricultural contexts.

穂ほ首くびが黄こ金がね色いろに実みのっている。
The ears of rice are ripening to a golden color.

Kanji

穂ear, ear (grain), head
首neck, counter for songs and poems

Built from

穂ほ+首くび

Etymology

Compound of 穂 (ho, 'ear of grain') and 首 (kubi, 'neck'), referring to the neck-like part of the rice plant that bears the grain. The reading ほくび is a straightforward combination of the two elements.