コマ
こま
noun
frame, panel; class period
1.
frame, panel
An individual panel in a manga or a single frame in a film or animation.
この漫画は1ページに4コマある。
This manga has four panels per page.
4コマ漫画は短くて読みやすい。
Four-panel manga are short and easy to read.
映画のコマを一つずつ確認した。
I checked each frame of the film one by one.
2.
class period, time slot
A unit of scheduled time, typically referring to a university lecture period or a scheduled slot in a timetable.
今日は3コマ授業がある。
I have three class periods today.
1限目のコマは朝早くて大変だ。
The first-period slot is tough because it's so early in the morning.
来学期は空きコマを減らしたい。
Next semester, I want to reduce my free periods.
USAGE:
コマ is written in katakana for both senses. The manga/film sense is by far the most common.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 4コマ漫画 (four-panel manga — a popular format)
- コマ割り (panel layout in manga)
- コマ送り (frame-by-frame playback)
- 空きコマ (free period, gap in schedule)
HOMOPHONE NOTE:
Not to be confused with 駒 (chess/shogi piece; horse) or 独楽 (spinning top), which are different words with different kanji.