縄(なわ)

なわ

noun

rope, cord

tool

1. rope, cord

A thick string made by twisting fibers together, traditionally made from straw or hemp in Japan.

荷物(にもつ)を縄(なわ)でしっかり縛(しば)った。

I tied the luggage tightly with rope.

子供(こども)たちが縄跳(なわと)びをしている。

The children are jumping rope.

犯人(はんにん)は縄(なわ)で縛(しば)られた。

The criminal was tied up with rope.

古(ふる)い縄(なわ)はすぐ切(き)れるから、新(あたら)しいのを使(つか)おう。

Old rope breaks easily, so let's use new one.

祭(まつ)りの前(まえ)に、村(むら)の人(ひと)たちが力(ちから)を合(あ)わせて太(ふと)い縄(なわ)を作(つく)った。

Before the festival, the villagers worked together to make a thick rope.

Usage: 縄(なわ) traditionally refers to rope made from natural fibers like straw (藁(わら)) or hemp (麻(あさ)). It's used in various contexts from practical binding to cultural practices.

Compounds

縄跳(なわと)び (jump rope)
縄張(なわば)り (territory, turf)
縄(なわ)を解(と)く (to untie rope)
縄(なわ)で縛(しば)る (to tie with rope)

Cultural note

注連縄(しめなわ) (shimenawa) - sacred rope used at Shinto shrines
縄文(じょうもん)時代(じだい) (Jomon period) - named after rope-patterned pottery

Similar words

ロープ - rope (loanword, general)
紐(ひも) - string, cord (thinner)
綱(つな) - thick rope, hawser

Related Words

Related: 紐(ひも) (string, cord (thinner))

Related: 綱(つな) (thick rope, hawser)

Related: ロープ (rope (loanword))

core

Added 2026.1.12 19:42 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:29

03500/03511_nawa