ロープ
rōpu[ɾo̞ːpɯ̟]
The Japanese word for "rope" can be expressed as ロープ (rōpu), 綱 or 縄.
Meaning: thick, strong string (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ロープ | rōpu | [ɾo̞ːpɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 綱 | tsuna | [t͡sɨna̠] (narrow) [ko̞ː] (narrow) |
| 縄 | nawa | [na̠β̞a̠] (narrow) |
The word is used to describe a thick, strong string.
Which one should you use?
ロープ is a loanword from English and is commonly used for modern, synthetic or industrial ropes. 縄 refers to ropes made of natural fibers, such as hemp or straw and carries a more traditional or organic connotation. 綱 is typically used for much thicker, heavy-duty ropes, such as those used for towing ships or in sumo wrestling.
How do you pronounce it?
rōpu
Did you know?
- The traditional rope 縄 is used in 'shimenawa' ropes to mark the boundary of a sacred space in Shinto shrines, warding off evil spirits.
- The word 綱 is also used metaphorically in Japanese to mean a 'principle' or a 'guiding thread' of a concept, much like the English 'main thread'.
- The verb 綯う (nau), which means to plait or twist fibers together, is the linguistic ancestor of the word 縄 (nawa).
Examples in context
- ロープを放すな。Don't let go of the rope.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of ロープ.Tatoeba #192268 by small_snow, translation #29431 by CK
- この縄は丈夫だ。This rope is sturdy.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of 縄 to describe its strength.Tatoeba #4212224 by KK_kaku_, translation #4352322 by shmo
- 縄梯子、見っけ。I've found the rope ladder.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of 縄 in the context of a rope ladder.Tatoeba #11940195 by small_snow, translation #11035674 by sundown
- 箱には紐が結ばれています。There is a rope tied around the box.
- 彼は紐で荷物を縛りました。He tied the luggage with a rope.
- 犬の首輪は丈夫な縄で作られています。The dog's collar is made of a sturdy rope.
- 祭りで掴めるのは縄の先だけだった。During the festival, I could only grab the end of the rope.
- 50 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are preparing for a camping trip in the mountains.
- 美咲 Misaki荷物を固定するロープはありますか？Nimotsu o kotei suru rōpu wa arimasu ka?Do you have a rope to secure the luggage?
- 大翔 Hirotoはい、丈夫なロープを持っています。Hai, jōbu na rōpu o motte imasu.Yes, I have a strong rope.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔君、それを使って荷物を結んで。Hiroto-kun, sore o tsukatte nimotsu o musunde.Hiroto, please use that to tie the luggage.
- 大翔 Hirotoわかりました、すぐやります。Wakarimashita, sugu yarimasu.Understood, I'll do it right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rope” translations and entries ロープ, 綱, 縄, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ロープ, 綱, 縄, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
