竹ちく夫ふ人じん

noun

bamboo wife; Dutch wife

A traditional cylindrical body pillow made of woven bamboo, used in hot weather to keep cool while sleeping. The term is a calque from Chinese; 'Dutch wife' is an older English equivalent for a similar bolster.

• 夏なつの夜よるは竹ちく夫ふ人じんを抱だいて寝ねると涼すずしい。

  On summer nights, sleeping while hugging a bamboo wife is cool.

• 昔むかしの日本にほんでは、竹ちく夫ふ人じんは夏なつの寝しん具ぐとしてよく使つかわれた。

  In old Japan, the bamboo wife was often used as summer bedding.