墓石
boseki[ha̠ka̠iɕi]
The English word 'tombstone' is translated into Japanese as 墓石 (boseki). Wiktionary also lists 墓碑 (bohi).
Meaning: stone on grave (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 墓石 | boseki | [ha̠ka̠iɕi] (narrow) [bo̞se̞kʲi] (narrow) |
| 墓碑 | bohi |
The term refers to a stone placed on a grave.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 墓石 (boseki) is composed of the characters for 'grave' (墓) and 'stone' (石).
Which one should you use?
墓石 (boseki) is the standard, everyday term for a tombstone, whereas 墓碑 (bohi) is a more formal or literary term.
How do you pronounce it?
boseki
Did you know?
- Many Japanese 墓石 (boseki) are engraved with the family name rather than the individual's name, emphasizing the lineage over the person.
- The character 墓 (haka) is a pictograph that originally represented a mound of earth covering a burial site.
- While an English 'tombstone' is often a single slab, a Japanese 墓石 (boseki) is frequently part of a vertical stone monument with multiple tiers.
Examples in context
- この墓地には立派な墓石が並んでいます。There are magnificent tombstones lined up in this cemetery.
- 新しい墓石を注文しました。Atarashii boseki o chuumon shimashita.I ordered a new tombstone.
- その墓石はとても立派ですね。Sono boseki wa totemo rippa desu ne.That tombstone is very magnificent, isn't it?
- 墓石をきれいに掃除しましょう。Boseki o kirei ni souji shimashou.Let's clean the tombstone nicely.
Example conversation
Kenta and Yui are visiting a family grave.
- 健太 Kentaこの墓石はまだ新しいね。Kono boseki wa mada atarashii ne.This tombstone is still new, isn't it?
- 結衣 Yuiはい、去年に建てたばかりです。Hai, kyonen ni tateta bakari desu.Yes, it was just erected last year.
- 健太 Kenta結衣、墓石を拭いてくれる？Yui, boseki o fuite kureru?Yui, can you wipe the tombstone?
- 結衣 Yuiいいよ、すぐやるね。Ii yo, sugu yaru ne.Sure, I'll do it right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tombstone” translations and entries 墓石, 墓碑, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 墓石, CC BY-SA 4.0.
