ニレ
nire
The Japanese word for elm is ニレ (nire).
The word ニレ is a noun used to refer to trees of the genus Ulmus.
Meaning: tree of genus Ulmus (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is nire.
Did you know?
- In Japanese folklore, certain old ニレ trees were believed to house spirits and were often marked with shimenawa ropes to protect the area.
- Historically, the bark of the ニレ was used in traditional Japanese medicine as a remedy for various inflammatory conditions.
- In traditional Japanese woodworking, the wood from the ニレ is highly prized for its strength and is frequently used to make high-quality furniture and traditional tools.
Examples in context
- 庭に大きなニレがあります。Niwa ni ookina nire ga arimasu.There is a large elm in the garden.
- これはニレの木です。Kore wa nire no ki desu.This is an elm tree.
- ニレの葉はきれいですね。Nire no ha wa kirei desu ne.The elm leaves are beautiful, aren't they?
Example conversation
A couple is walking through a botanical garden.
- 美咲 Misakiあのニレはとても高いですね。Ano nire wa totemo takai desu ne.That elm is very tall, isn't it?
- 大翔 Hiroto本当だ、立派なニレですね。Hontou da, rippa na nire desu ne.You're right, it's a splendid elm.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔さんもそう思いますか？Hiroto-san mo sou omoimasu ka?Do you think so too, Hiroto?
- 大翔 Hirotoはい、とても美しいです。Hai, totemo utsukushii desu.Yes, it is very beautiful.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ニレ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
