苔
koke
The English word "moss" is translated into Japanese as 苔 (koke). If unsure, use 苔. Wiktionary also lists コケ (koke) and 蘚苔 (sentai).
Meaning: plants of the division Bryophyta (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 苔 | koke | |
| コケ | koke | |
| 蘚苔 | sentai | [sẽ̞nta̠i] (narrow) |
The primary way to refer to moss is 苔.
Which one should you use?
苔 is the common word for moss used in everyday language. In contrast, 蘚苔 (sentai) is a technical, scientific term used in biology to refer to bryophytes. While 苔 is the standard kanji, writing the word in katakana as コケ is also very common in scientific contexts, botanical illustrations or when a writer wants to emphasize the word as a specific subject in a text.
How do you pronounce it?
koke
When do people say it?
The phrase 苔むす is frequently used in literature and proverbs to describe something becoming old or weathered by being covered in moss.
Did you know?
- There is a distinct cultural concept called 'moss-viewing' that mirrors the famous tradition of cherry blossom viewing, where people visit specific forests to admire 苔.
- Japanese folklore sometimes associates 苔 with the spirits of the forest, as the velvet texture is seen as a natural blanket for hidden woodland deities.
- Japan has a dedicated 'moss horticulture' culture where specialized gardens, such as the one at Saihō-ji, are designed specifically to showcase hundreds of species of 苔.
Examples in context
- 転石苔むさず。A rolling stone gathers no moss.This sentence uses 苔 to show how the proverb is structured.Tatoeba #124950 by KK_kaku_, translation #279026 by CM
- 「転がる石は苔をもつけず」はことわざである。"A rolling stone gathers no moss" is a proverb.This sentence shows that the phrase containing 苔 is recognized as a proverb.Tatoeba #4912 by StephenCase, translation #1503 by CK
- この岩には美しい苔が生えています。This rock is covered in beautiful moss.
- この湿地帯には多くの蘚が生息しています。Many mosses inhabit this wetland.
- あの木の上にはゴケがたくさん生えているよ。There's a lot of moss growing on that tree.
- 散歩中にこけを見つけたよ。I found some moss while I was out for a walk.
- 庭に緑色の苔が生えています。Niwa ni midori iro no koke ga haete imasu.Green moss is growing in the garden.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Youta and Yui are walking in a Japanese garden.
- 陽太 Yota見て、ここの苔がとても綺麗だよ。Mite, koko no koke ga totemo kirei dayo.Look, the moss here is very beautiful.
- 結衣 Yui本当だね。ふかふかしていて気持ちよさそう。Hontou dane. Fukafuka shite ite kimochiyosasou.You're right. It looks so soft and fluffy.
- 陽太 Yota苔を育てるのは大変らしいよ。Koke o sodateru no wa taihen rashii yo.I heard that growing moss is quite difficult.
- 結衣 Yuiだからこそ、この景色は貴重なんだね。Dakara koso, kono keshiki wa kichou nanda ne.That's exactly why this scenery is so precious.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “moss” translations and entries 苔, 蘚苔, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
