穂
ほ
ear or head (of a grain plant); spike; tip (of a brush or spear)
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Examples
稲の穂が金色に光っている。
いねのほがきんいろにひかっている。
The ears of rice are shining golden.
秋になると麦の穂が垂れてくる。
あきになるとむぎのほがたれてくる。
When autumn comes the ears of wheat begin to droop.
実るほど頭を垂れる稲の穂かな。
みのるほどこうべをたれるいねのほかな。
The riper the ear of rice, the lower it bows its head.
穂が出そろったので、まもなく収穫だ。
ほがでそろったので、まもなくしゅうかくだ。
The heads have all come out, so the harvest is not far off.
Common patterns
- 稲の穂
- an ear of rice
- 穂が出る
- for the ears to come out; to head
- 穂を垂れる
- for the ears to bow down (with ripeness)
Memory tip
Do not confuse with its homophones 帆 (ほ, a sail) and 歩 — the kanji 穂 carries the grain radical 禾 on the left, which places it in the field. The proverb about ripe rice bowing its head is the standard image for humility in the successful.
Kanji in this word
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What does 穂 mean?