織る
oru[o̞ɾɯ̟]
In Japanese, the English phrase 'weave' can be expressed as 織る (oru) or 編む.
Meaning: to form something by passing strands of material over and under one another (verb)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 織る | oru | [o̞ɾɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 編む | amu | [a̠mɯ̟] (narrow) |
Both terms relate to the process of forming something by passing strands of material over and under one another, but they are applied to different materials and contexts. 編む can be used for materials like yarn, straw or hair and it is also used metaphorically to describe the act of weaving together stories, poems or collections of songs.
Which one should you use?
Use 編む (amu) when you are knitting, braiding or weaving items made of yarn, straw or hair, such as baskets. Additionally, 編む is the preferred term for metaphorical 'weaving', such as weaving a story or a poem.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
oru
Did you know?
- The word 編む is also used for the process of editing a book or compiling an anthology. This stems from the idea of 'weaving' disparate pieces of text together into a single volume.
- The term 織る is used for the traditional 'weaving' of fate or destiny in certain literary contexts. This mirrors the Greek mythological concept of the Moirai weaving the threads of life.
- While 編む covers knitting and braiding, Japanese has a specific cultural distinction for 'weaving' silk, where 織る is tied to the high-status history of the Nishijin textile district in Kyoto.
Examples in context
- クモはいつも自分たちの巣を３次元に織る。Spiders always weave their webs in three dimensions.This sentence shows how to use 織る to describe a spider weaving a web.Tatoeba #225629 by small_snow, translation #62965 by AlanF_US
- 着物を織るのが得意です。I'm good at weaving kimono.
- 手織りでバッグを作ります。I'm weaving a bag by hand.
- 彼女は伝統的な模様を織る。Kanojo wa dentouteki na moyou o oru.She weaves traditional patterns.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “weave” translations and entries 織る, 編む, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
