瓦(かわら)

かわら
noun
roof tile
1. roof tile
A curved or flat piece of fired clay or other material used to cover roofs.
古(ふる)い家(いえ)は瓦(かわら)屋根(やね)だ。
Old houses have tiled roofs.
台風(たいふう)で瓦(かわら)が飛(と)んだ。
The roof tiles blew off in the typhoon.
瓦(かわら)を葺(ふ)き替(か)える工事(こうじ)をしている。
They're doing construction to re-tile the roof.

瓦(かわら) refers to traditional Japanese roof tiles, typically made of fired clay.

Common expressions

Types of tiles

  • 鬼瓦(おにがわら) (decorative demon tile at roof ends)
  • 平瓦(ひらがわら) (flat tiles)
  • 丸瓦(まるがわら) (round/cylindrical tiles)

Cultural note

Traditional Japanese roof tiles are typically gray or black. Red-brown tiles are more common in Okinawa.

general
Added 2026.1.13 10:47 · Revised 2026.5.28 8:34
03500/03902_kawara