枝
eda[e̞da̠]
The English word branch is translated into Japanese as 枝 (eda).
The primary meaning of 枝 is the woody part of a tree that arises from the trunk. For other contexts, there are specialized terms: 分岐する is used as a verb to describe jumping to a different location in a program, often due to a conditional statement. In formal contexts, 支店 is a common term for a branch of a company, while 分科 refers to a branch of study or a specialized academic field.
Meaning: woody part of a tree arising from the trunk (noun)
Which one should you use?
In a botanical context, distinguish 枝 (the woody branch) from 葉, which refers specifically to the leaves attached to those branches. To describe the act of branching out or a bifurcation, such as a path splitting into two, use the noun 枝分かれ.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
eda
Did you know?
- The term 枝 appears in the name of the traditional Japanese sweet 枝豆, which translates to 'branch beans' because they are harvested in pods still attached to the stem.
- The word 枝 is used in the phrase 枝葉末節 to describe the trivial, unimportant details of a story, comparing them to small twigs on a main trunk.
- The word 枝 is the root of the common Japanese surname 枝田, which literally means 'branch field'.
Examples in context
- その木の枝を切ったんだ。I cut a branch from the tree.The first sentence shows how to use 枝 when talking about cutting a branch from a tree.Tatoeba #206559 by bunbuku, translation #43807 by CK
- 彼はしっかりと枝につかまった。He held on firmly to the branch.The second sentence illustrates using 枝 when someone holds onto a branch.Tatoeba #113592 by bunbuku, translation #290081 by CK
- 雪の重さで枝が折れてしまった。The branch broke under the weight of the snow.The third sentence demonstrates the use of 枝 when a branch breaks under weight.Tatoeba #11513216 by small_snow, translation #7742650 by AlanF_US
- 私の会社は日本に三つの支店があります。My company has three branches in Japan.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are walking through a park in autumn.
- 陽葵 Himariこの枝、きれいな色をしているね。Kono eda, kirei na iro o shite iru ne.This branch has a beautiful color, doesn't it?
- 蓮 Ren本当だ。落ちている枝も赤くて綺麗だよ。Hontou da. Ochite iru eda mo akakute kirei da yo.True. The branches lying on the ground are red and beautiful too.
- 陽葵 Himari風で枝が揺れているよ。Kaze de eda ga yurete iru yo.The branches are swaying in the wind.
- 蓮 Ren少し寒くなってきたね。Sukoshi samuku natte kita ne.It has started to get a little cold, hasn't it?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “branch” translations and entries 枝, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
