凧
tako[ta̠ko̞]
The Japanese word for 'kite' is 凧 (tako). If unsure, use 凧. Wiktionary also lists 紙鳶 (shien) and てんばた (tenbata).
Meaning: lightweight toy for flying (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 凧 | tako | [ta̠ko̞] (narrow) [ika̠] (narrow) |
| 紙鳶 | shien | [ɕiẽ̞ɴ] (narrow) |
| てんばた | tenbata |
The term refers to a lightweight toy flown in the air. To describe the activity of kite flying, the word for kite is combined with the verb ageru (to raise or lift) to form the noun 凧揚げ.
Which one should you use?
凧 is the standard word for a kite. While 紙鳶 and てんばた are also forms for kite, 凧 is a homophone for the word for octopus (蛸/たこ), but they are distinguished by their different kanji.
How do you pronounce it?
tako
Did you know?
- Some traditional Japanese kites are designed as 'battle kites' used to collide with and knock down an opponent's 凧.
- In Japan, kite flying 凧揚げ is traditionally associated with the first day of the New Year to bring good luck and health.
- The kanji used for 凧 is a 'kokuji', which means it is a character specifically created in Japan rather than being imported from China.
Examples in context
- 凧揚げをしよう。Let's fly a kite.This sentence shows how to suggest the activity of flying a kite using 凧.Tatoeba #137161 by small_snow, translation #449022 by CK
- トムは凧に糸を付けた。Tom attached the string to the kite.This sentence illustrates attaching a string to a 凧.Tatoeba #199863 by bunbuku, translation #37064 by CK
- 凧が木に引っかかった。The kite got caught in the tree.This sentence describes a 凧 getting caught in a tree.Tatoeba #203678 by small_snow, translation #40916 by CK
- 凧が空高く舞っている。The kite is flying high in the sky.
- 今日、公園でたこあげをしよう。Let's fly kites in the park today.
- お父さんが小さいとき、よく空にたこを飛ばしていたな。When Dad was young, he used to fly kites in the sky often.
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are at a park on a windy day.
- 陽太 Yota大きな凧を持ってきました。Ookina tako o motte kimashita.I brought a big kite.
- 美咲 Misakiすごい！高く上がりそうね。Sugoi! Takaku agarisou ne.Amazing! It looks like it will fly high.
- 陽太 Yota風が強いから、すぐ上がるよ。Kaze ga tsuyoi kara, sugu agaru yo.The wind is strong, so it will fly up quickly.
- 美咲 Misaki一緒に飛ばしましょう！Issho ni tobashimashou!Let's fly it together!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “kite” translations and entries 凧, 紙鳶, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 凧, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
