木
ki[kʲi]
In Japanese, wood is 木 (ki). Wiktionary also lists 木材 (mokuzai).
Meaning: substance (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 木 | ki | [kʲi] (narrow) [ko̞] (narrow) |
| 木材 | mokuzai | [mo̞kɯ̟za̠i] (narrow) |
The word 木 is a general term that can mean either 'wood' or 'tree' depending on the context.
Which one should you use?
While 木 is a general term for both a tree and the substance wood, 木材 specifically refers to wood as a processed material, such as lumber, timber or wood material used for manufacturing and construction.
How do you pronounce it?
ki
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the word 木 is used to name several days of the week, such as 木曜日 for Thursday, which literally means 'wood day'.
- The concept of 'wood' is deeply tied to Shintoism, where certain ancient trees are marked with 注連縄 straw ropes to signify they are dwellings for spirits.
- Japanese has a specific word, 木組み, which refers to the traditional art of interlocking wooden joints without using nails or glue.
Examples in context
- 木は燃えます。Wood burns.This sentence demonstrates that 木 can burn.Tatoeba #2080647 by bunbuku, translation #323576 by CK
- 木は燃えやすい。Wood burns easily.This sentence shows that 木 burns easily.Tatoeba #80085 by tommy_san, translation #323631 by CK
- その箱は木製です。The box is made of wood.This sentence uses 木 to describe an object made of wood.Tatoeba #207200 by small_snow, translation #44451 by CK
- 39 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki and Kenta are looking at a piece of furniture.
- 美咲 Misakiこのテーブルは何でできていますか？Kono tēburu wa nan de dekite imasu ka?What is this table made of?
- 健太 Kentaこれは木でできていますよ。Kore wa ki de dekite imasu yo.This is made of wood.
- 美咲 Misaki木の色がとてもきれいですね。Ki no iro ga totemo kirei desu ne.The color of the wood is very beautiful.
- 健太 Kentaそうですね。いい素材です。Sō desu ne. Ii sozai desu.I agree. It is a good material.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wood” translations and entries 木, 木材, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
