1.
gourd, calabash, bottle gourd
A plant of the gourd family with a distinctive narrow-waisted, hourglass shape when dried. Historically used as containers for water, sake, or medicine.
庭で瓢箪を育てている。
I'm growing gourds in the garden.
乾燥させた瓢箪を水筒として使う。
To use a dried gourd as a water bottle.
豊臣秀吉は千成瓢箪を馬印として使っていたことで知られている。
Toyotomi Hideyoshi is known for using a cluster of gourds as his battle standard.
CULTURE:
Gourds have deep cultural significance in Japan. 豊臣秀吉 famously used the 千成瓢箪 (thousand gourds) as his emblem, and gourds are considered a lucky symbol. They are also associated with the legendary figure 瓢箪から駒 (a horse from a gourd), a proverb meaning something unexpected actually comes true.
PROVERB:
- 瓢箪から駒: literally "a horse from a gourd" — something meant as a joke or impossibility actually happens
USAGE:
In modern Japanese, gourds are grown as a hobby and used decoratively. The distinctive shape is also used metaphorically — 瓢箪型 (gourd-shaped) describes anything with a narrow middle.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 瓢箪から駒: something unexpected becomes real
- 千成瓢箪: cluster of gourds (Hideyoshi's emblem)
- 瓢箪型: gourd-shaped