独楽(こま)

こま
noun
spinning top
1. spinning top
A traditional toy that spins on its pointed end, played with especially during the New Year season in Japan.
子(こ)どもたちが独楽(こま)を回(まわ)している。
The children are spinning tops.
お正月(しょうがつ)に独楽(こま)回(まわ)しをして遊(あそ)んだ。
We played with spinning tops during New Year's.
昔(むかし)は木製(もくせい)の独楽(こま)が子(こ)どもの定番(ていばん)の玩具(おもちゃ)だった。
Long ago, wooden spinning tops were a standard toy for children.

ORTHOGRAPHY:

The word can be written as:

  • 独楽(こま) (ateji kanji)
  • こま (hiragana)

The kanji 独楽(こま) is ateji (phonetic kanji with no semantic connection to the meaning). The characters literally mean 'alone' + 'fun.'

CULTURAL NOTE:
独楽(こま)回(まわ)し (top spinning) is a traditional New Year's game (正月(しょうがつ)遊(あそ)び) in Japan, along with 凧揚(たこあ)げ (kite flying), 羽根(はね)つき (shuttlecock), and かるた (card games).

TYPES:

  • 投(な)げ独楽(ごま) (throwing tops)
  • 手回(てまわ)し独楽(ごま) (hand-spinning tops)
  • ベイブレード (modern spinning top toys)
general
Added 2026.2.5 11:50
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