枕(まくら)

まくら

noun

pillow

1. pillow

A cushion to support the head while sleeping or resting.

高(たか)い枕(まくら)は首(くび)が痛(いた)くなる。

A high pillow makes my neck hurt.

枕(まくら)を替(か)えると眠(ねむ)れない。

I can't sleep if I change my pillow.

枕元(まくらもと)に水(みず)を置(お)いている。

I keep water by my bedside.

ホテルの枕(まくら)が柔(やわ)らかすぎて寝(ね)にくかった。

The hotel pillow was too soft and hard to sleep on.

借金(しゃっきん)を全部(ぜんぶ)返(かえ)したので、やっと枕(まくら)を高(たか)くして眠(ねむ)れる。

I paid off all my debt, so I can finally sleep without worries.

[Note: 枕(まくら)を高(たか)くして眠(ねむ)る means to sleep peacefully, without anxiety]

枕(まくら) refers to the pillow used for sleeping.

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

枕元(まくらもと) (bedside, by one's pillow)
枕(まくら)カバー (pillowcase)
高枕(たかまくら)で眠(ねむ)る (to sleep without worries, lit: sleep on a high pillow)
枕(まくら)を高(たか)くして眠(ねむ)る (to sleep peacefully)

TRADITIONAL JAPANESE PILLOWS:
Traditional Japanese pillows (枕(まくら)) were historically hard and filled with materials like buckwheat hulls (蕎麦殻(そばがら)), unlike soft Western-style pillows.

COUNTER: 個(こ)

core

Added 2026.1.13 10:47 · Revised 2026.5.28 8:26

03500/03898_makura