駒(こま)

こま
noun
piece (in games); pawn
1. game piece; playing piece
A piece used in board games such as shogi (Japanese chess), chess, or go.
将棋(しょうぎ)の駒(こま)を並(なら)べた。
I arranged the shogi pieces.
相手(あいて)の駒(こま)を取(と)った。
I captured my opponent's piece.
2. pawn; subordinate
Figuratively, a person used by others for their own purposes.
彼(かれ)は上司(じょうし)の駒(こま)として使(つか)われていた。
He was being used as a pawn by his boss.

SHOGI PIECES (将棋(しょうぎ)の駒(こま)):

  • 王将(おうしょう)/玉将(ぎょくしょう) (king)
  • 飛車(ひしゃ) (rook)
  • 角行(かくぎょう) (bishop)
  • 金将(きんしょう) (gold general)
  • 銀将(ぎんしょう) (silver general)
  • 桂馬(けいま) (knight)
  • 香車(きょうしゃ) (lance)
  • 歩兵(ふひょう) (pawn)

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 駒(こま)を進(すす)める (to advance a piece; to make progress)
  • 駒(こま)として使(つか)う (to use someone as a pawn)
  • 持(も)ち駒(ごま) (pieces in hand - captured pieces in shogi; also figuratively: resources at one's disposal)

NOTE: The word 駒(こま) originally meant 'horse' and is sometimes still used in this archaic sense in literary contexts.

OTHER MEANING:

  • 独楽(こま) (spinning top) - written with different kanji but same pronunciation

Related Words

Related: 将棋(しょうぎ) (shogi)
general
Added 2026.1.19 8:18 · Revised 2026.1.24 23:24
07000/07119_koma