翼(つばさ)

つばさ
noun
wing, wings
1. wing, wings
The limbs of a bird or the parts of an aircraft that enable flight.
鳥(とり)が翼(つばさ)を広(ひろ)げた。
The bird spread its wings.
飛行機(ひこうき)の翼(つばさ)が見(み)える。
I can see the airplane's wings.
けがをした鳥(とり)の翼(つばさ)を手当(てあ)てした。
I treated the injured bird's wing.
2. wing (figurative)
Used metaphorically to represent freedom, protection, or support.
夢(ゆめ)に翼(つばさ)を与(あた)える。
Give wings to your dreams.
Figurative expression
自由(じゆう)の翼(つばさ)を広(ひろ)げて、新(あたら)しい世界(せかい)へ飛(と)び立(た)ちたい。
I want to spread the wings of freedom and fly off to a new world.
音楽(おんがく)は心(こころ)に翼(つばさ)を与(あた)えてくれる。
Music gives wings to the heart.

翼(つばさ) refers to the wings of a bird, insect, or aircraft. It has a literary, elevated tone compared to the more everyday 羽(はね).

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 翼(つばさ): wings (literary, poetic, often paired)
  • 羽(はね): wing or feather (everyday, can refer to a single wing or feathers themselves)

翼(つばさ) tends to evoke the image of wings spread in flight, while 羽(はね) is more general.

COMMON PATTERNS:

FIGURATIVE USAGE:
Often used metaphorically in expressions about 自由(じゆう), 夢(ゆめ), and ambition. Common in song lyrics, literature, and motivational contexts.

NAME:
翼(つばさ) is also a popular given name for both boys and girls in Japan.

Related Words

Related: 羽(はね) (wing, feather)
general
Added 2026.1.12 18:31 · Revised 2026.5.26 22:19
03500/03528_tsubasa