ヨシキリ

ヨ

シ

キ

リ

Meanings

usually written using kana alone

Refers to birds of the genus Acrocephalus, especially the great reed warbler (オオヨシキリ) and the black-browed reed warbler (コヨシキリ). Usually written in katakana as ヨシキリ.

See also: コヨシキリ · オオヨシキリ

夏なつになると、ヨシキリが葦あし原はらでさえずる。
In summer, reed warblers sing in the reed beds.
オオヨシキリは大おおきな声こえで鳴なく。
The great reed warbler calls with a loud voice.

See all 5 example sentences ›

Kanji

葭reed
切cut, cutoff, be sharp
葦reed, bullrush
雀sparrow

Related words

オオヨシキリ
Specifically the great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus), a larger species within the group.
コヨシキリ
The black-browed reed warbler (Acrocephalus bistrigiceps), a smaller species.

Written forms

ヨシキリUsage100%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is common for bird names and matches usual-kana usage.
よしきり
Hiragana spelling is also used, especially in general writing.
葭よし切きり
Kanji form using 葭 (reed) and 切 (cut); rarely used in modern texts.
葦よし切きり
Variant kanji form with 葦 (reed); also rare.
葦雀よしきり
Kanji form using 雀 (sparrow); historically used but now very rare.

Etymology

The name likely derives from 葭 (yoshi, 'reed') and 切 (kiri, 'cut'), possibly referring to the bird's habit of cutting reeds or its sharp call. The exact origin is uncertain.