兜(かぶと)

かぶと
noun
helmet (especially samurai helmet)
clothing
1. helmet; samurai helmet
A helmet, especially the ornate helmets worn by samurai warriors. Also refers to decorative replicas displayed during Boys' Day (端午の節句) and other cultural occasions.
武士(ぶし)が兜(かぶと)をかぶった。
The samurai put on his helmet.
五月(ごがつ)になると兜(かぶと)を飾(かざ)る家庭(かてい)が多(おお)い。
Many households display samurai helmets when May comes around.
博物館(はくぶつかん)には戦国時代(せんごくじだい)の兜(かぶと)や鎧(よろい)が展示(てんじ)されている。
Helmets and armor from the Warring States period are on display at the museum.

Samurai helmets are characterized by elaborate crests (前立(まえだて)) and face guards. Miniature 兜(かぶと) are displayed alongside 鎧(よろい) (armor) and 鯉(こい)のぼり (carp streamers) during 端午(たんご)の節句(せっく) (Boys' Day, May 5th) to wish for boys' healthy growth.

The idiom 兜(かぶと)を脱(ぬ)ぐ (to take off one's helmet) means to surrender or admit defeat.

Common collocations

Related Words

Compare: 甲冑(かっちゅう) (armor and helmet)
Related: 鍬形(くわがた) (hoe-shaped helmet crest)
general
Added 2026.2.17 23:42 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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