釵
sai
sai is the Japanese word for a traditional hair ornament used to hold a bun in place.
The term refers to a traditional Japanese hair ornament designed specifically to secure a bun.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is sai.
Did you know?
- The word sai is used to describe both a delicate traditional hair ornament and a deadly martial arts weapon. This double meaning exists because the two objects share a similar physical shape.
- The character 釵 can be read as either sai or kanzashi depending on whether the reader uses the Chinese-derived reading or the native Japanese reading.
- A common folk etymology suggests the word comes from 'ka' meaning 'flower' and 'sashi' meaning 'to insert', though this is linguistically unlikely because it mixes different types of Japanese readings.
Examples in context
- 私は20歳です (わたしはにじゅっさいです, Watashi wa nijussai desu)I am 20 years old.
- この釵はとても古いものです。Kono sai wa totemo furui mono desu.This sai is very old.
- 博物館で金色の釵を見た。Hakubutsukan de kin'iro no sai o mita.I saw a golden sai at the museum.
Example conversation
Ren and Yui are looking at traditional accessories at a shop.
- 蓮 Ren結衣さん、この釵はどうですか。Yui-san, kono sai wa dō desu ka.Yui, what do you think of this hair ornament?
- 結衣 Yuiわあ、デザインが素敵ですね。Wā, dezain ga suteki desu ne.Wow, the design is lovely.
- 蓮 Ren似合うと思って買いたいです。Niau to omotte kaitai desu.I think it would suit you, so I want to buy it.
- 結衣 Yuiありがとうございます、蓮さん。Arigatō gozaimasu, Ren-san.Thank you, Ren.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 釵, CC BY-SA 4.0.
