頂
itadaki
The English phrase 'top' can be translated into Japanese using the forms 頂 (itadaki) or 頂上.
Meaning: uppermost part (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 頂 | itadaki | |
| 頂上 | chōjō | [t͡ɕo̞ːʑo̞ː] (narrow) |
The word refers to the uppermost part or the apex of something.
Which one should you use?
頂上 (chōjō) is the most common way to refer to the summit of a mountain or a physical peak. In contrast, 頂 (itadaki) is often used in more poetic, literary or formal contexts to describe the very tip or apex of something. Additionally, the compound word 山頂 (sanchō) is a common term specifically used for the summit of a mountain.
How do you pronounce it?
itadaki
Did you know?
- The word 頂く (itadaku), derived from 頂 (itadaki), is the humble verb used for 'to receive' or 'to eat'. It literally describes the action of raising an object above one's head to show respect.
- The reading itadaki is often used in highly respectful speech to refer to one's benefactor or a person of much higher status, treating them as the 'summit' of one's world.
- The kanji used in 頂 also represents the human head, making it a linguistic link between physical summits and the top of the body.
Examples in context
- 頂上まで登ったよ。We climbed to the top.This sentence is useful for describing a climb to the 頂.Tatoeba #9641262 by small_snow, translation #1543550 by JimBreen
- 山頂には木がなかった。The top of the hill was bare.This sentence is useful for describing the top of a hill using the form 頂.Tatoeba #169385 by bunbuku, translation #245101 by CM
- 富士山は雪を頂いている。The top of Mt. Fuji is covered with snow.This sentence is useful for describing the top of Mt. Fuji using the form 頂.Tatoeba #84934 by small_snow, translation #318768 by CK
- 34 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yota and Misaki are hiking up a mountain.
- 陽太 Yotaあと少しで頂だね。Ato sukoshi de itadaki da ne.We are almost at the top.
- 美咲 Misaki本当だ。景色が楽しみ！Hontō da. Keshiki ga tanoshimi!You're right. I'm looking forward to the view!
- 陽太 Yotaついに頂に着いたよ。Tsuini itadaki ni tsuita yo.We finally reached the top.
- 美咲 Misakiすごい！本当に高いね。Sugoi! Hontō ni takai ne.Amazing! It's really high.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “top” translations and entries 頂, 頂上, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
