スペード
supēdo[sɨ̥pe̞ːdo̞]
The English word "spade" can be translated into Japanese as either スペード (supēdo) or 鋤.
Meaning: garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| スペード | supēdo | [sɨ̥pe̞ːdo̞] (narrow) |
| 鋤 | suki | [sɨkʲi] (narrow) |
The term refers to a spade, either as a garden tool or as a suit in a deck of playing cards.
Which one should you use?
The katakana form スペード is typically used when referring to the suit in a deck of playing cards. In contrast, 鋤 refers to the agricultural tool itself.
How do you pronounce it?
supēdo
Did you know?
- While スペード is used for the card suit, Japanese playing cards called 花札 or 'hanafuda' do not use suits at all, instead featuring seasonal plants and animals.
- The kanji 鋤 contains a radical for 'metal', which marks the historical shift in Japan from using simple wooden sticks to forged iron tools for digging.
- In Japan, the tool 鋤 is often associated with the 'pioneer spirit' of early agriculture, and images of it can symbolize the hard work of reclaiming land from nature.
Examples in context
- 新しいスペードを買いました。atarashii supe-do o kaimashita.I bought a new spade.
- 庭仕事にスペードが必要です。niwashigoto ni supe-do ga hitsuyo desu.A spade is necessary for gardening.
- そのスペードを貸してください。sono supe-do o kashite kudasai.Please lend me that spade.
Example conversation
Yui and Kenta are in the garden preparing to plant some flowers.
- 結衣 Yui健太、スペードはどこにある？Kenta, supe-do wa doko ni aru?Kenta, where is the spade?
- 健太 Kenta倉庫の中にありますよ。Soko no naka ni arimasu yo.It is inside the warehouse.
- 結衣 Yuiじゃあ、それを持ってきて。Jaa, sore o motte kite.Then, please go get it.
- 健太 Kentaわかりました、すぐに持ってきます。Wakarimashita, sugu ni motte kimasu.Understood, I will bring it immediately.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “spade” translations and entries スペード, 鋤, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
