(はた)

はた
noun
flag, banner
1. flag
A piece of cloth with a distinctive design, used as a symbol.
(はた)()
To wave a flag.
Japan's flag is the Hinomaru.
To hoist the national flag.
To wave a white flag.
The flag is fluttering in the wind.
To attach a flag to the ship.
2. banner
A large piece of cloth bearing a message or design.
(はた)(かか)げる
To raise a banner.
To hold a cheering banner.
To put up election banners.
To raise a banner of protest.
The demonstrators marched through the streets holding up banners.

(はた) refers to flags and banners. Used both literally and figuratively.

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

CULTURAL NOTE:
The Japanese national flag is called 日の丸(ひのまる) (circle of the sun).