Meaning
The kanji 句 carries the core meaning of phrase, clause, or verse. It refers to a self-contained unit of language — whether a grammatical phrase inside a sentence, a line in a traditional poem, or a fixed expression woven into daily speech. In modern Japanese, 句 appears across three main domains: grammar, poetry, and fixed expressions.
Etymologically, 句 combines two visual components: the outer element 勹 — a shape suggesting a person bending or something being enclosed — and the inner element 口 (mouth). Together they suggest speech being wrapped up and given definite form. The mouth produces language; the enclosure shapes it into something bounded and meaningful.
In classical and modern Japanese literature, 句 is most celebrated in the context of 俳句 (haiku) — the three-part poem of 5-7-5 mora. Each rhythmic segment of a haiku is itself called a 句. The kanji also anchors grammatical vocabulary, appearing in words like 句読点 (punctuation marks) and 慣用句 (idioms).
At just 5 strokes, 句 is taught at the middle school (中学校) level in Japan. It sits at JLPT N1 — the highest proficiency level — reflecting its ties to literary study and advanced reading. Its radical is 口 (mouth), a fitting anchor for a character whose entire life is language.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The primary — and in practice, the only — on'yomi reading of 句 is ク (ku). This reading entered Japanese alongside the character, carried by Chinese scholarly and literary texts. In practice, ク appears in every common compound — from poetry to grammar to 文句, the word everyone reaches for when they have a complaint.
The reading ク (ku) appears in a wide range of compound words:
- 俳句 (haiku) — Japan's iconic 17-syllable poem, structured in three phrases of 5-7-5 mora
- 文句 (monku) — complaint, grievance; also means a "phrase" or "text"; one of the most common everyday words using this kanji
- 語句 (goku) — words and phrases; vocabulary items; used in academic and writing contexts
- 句読点 (kutōten) — punctuation marks; specifically the Japanese period (。) and comma (、)
- 慣用句 (kanyōku) — idiom; a set expression whose overall meaning cannot be read off its individual words
- 成句 (seiku) — an established, fixed phrase; a conventional expression recognized as a unit
- 句集 (kushū) — a collection or anthology of haiku poems
- 節句 (sekku) — a traditional Japanese seasonal festival day, such as Hinamatsuri (March 3) or Tanabata (July 7)
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The kanji 句 has no standard standalone kun'yomi in modern Japanese. It appears almost exclusively in on'yomi compounds. This is typical of kanji imported through Chinese classical literature: no native Japanese word was mapped to the character, so the Chinese pronunciation stuck. When 句 appears alone — for example, when a poet refers to "a verse" — it is read with the on'yomi く, as in 一句詠む (to compose one haiku).
Common Words & Compounds
句 surfaces across a wide range of compound words, from poetry and classical literature to everyday conversation and formal grammar. The entries below are grouped by theme.
Poetry & Classical Literature
- 俳句 (haiku) — the 17-syllable poem built on a 5-7-5 structure; where most people first encounter 句 in the wild
- 句集 (kushū) — a collection of haiku poems, often compiled by or about a single poet
- 名句 (meiku) — a celebrated phrase or verse; the kind that still gets quoted centuries later
- 一句 (ikku) — one haiku; one verse; used when counting or composing individual poems
- 作句 (sakku) — the act of composing a haiku; haiku composition
Grammar & Linguistics
- 語句 (goku) — words and phrases; used in academic writing and editorial contexts
- 句読点 (kutōten) — punctuation marks; Japanese uses 。(period) and 、(comma) rather than their Western counterparts
- 慣用句 (kanyōku) — idiom; a fixed expression with a figurative meaning that cannot be decoded word by word, such as 猫の手も借りたい
- 成句 (seiku) — an established phrase; a conventional linguistic unit recognized by dictionaries
- 定型句 (teikei-ku) — a formulaic or stock phrase used in specific social or professional settings
Everyday & Cultural Japanese
- 文句 (monku) — complaint, objection; one of the most frequently used words in daily Japanese; also means "phrase" or "wording"
- 節句 (sekku) — a traditional seasonal festival day in the Japanese cultural calendar, blending Shinto observance with customs traced back to China
- 結句 (kekku) — a concluding phrase; the final verse of a poem; also used colloquially to mean "in the end" or "ultimately"
- 冒頭句 (bōtōku) — an opening phrase or introductory clause; the first expression in a speech, letter, or composition
Example Sentences
彼女は美しい俳句を詠んだ。
Kanojo wa utsukushii haiku wo yonda.
She composed a beautiful haiku.
文句を言わずに仕事をしなさい。
Monku wo iwazu ni shigoto wo shinasai.
Do your work without complaining.
この慣用句の意味を知っていますか。
Kono kanyōku no imi wo shitte imasu ka.
Do you know the meaning of this idiom?
句読点を正しく使うことが大切だ。
Kutōten wo tadashiku tsukau koto ga taisetsu da.
It is important to use punctuation marks correctly.
先生は私の文章の語句を訂正してくれた。
Sensei wa watashi no bunshō no goku wo teisei shite kureta.
The teacher corrected the wording in my essay.
彼は一句詠んで笑いを取った。
Kare wa ikku yonde warai wo totta.
He recited one haiku and got a laugh from the audience.
名句は時代を超えて人々の心に残る。
Meiku wa jidai wo koete hitobito no kokoro ni nokoru.
Famous verses remain in the hearts of people across the ages.
節句には家族で集まる習慣がある。
Sekku ni wa kazoku de atsumaru shūkan ga aru.
There is a tradition of gathering with family on seasonal festival days.
この表現は成句として辞書に載っている。
Kono hyōgen wa seiku to shite jisho ni notte iru.
This expression is listed in the dictionary as a set phrase.
俳句集の中で一番好きな句を選んだ。
Haikushū no naka de ichiban suki na ku wo eranda.
I chose my favorite verse from the haiku anthology.
Memory Tip
To remember 句, picture a person bending over (勹) and speaking carefully into a mouth or microphone (口). The person is at a haiku competition, reciting a precisely crafted phrase to the audience. The wrapping shape of 勹 around 口 captures what a 句 actually is: language shaped into a bounded, deliberate unit. A haiku poet makes exactly this choice — every syllable chosen to fit within a strict structure. With just 5 strokes, 句 is visually simple but conceptually rich. Remember: the mouth (口) speaks, and the wrap (勹) gives that speech its form.