瓜(うり)

うり
noun
melon, gourd
plant-generalfood
1. melon, gourd
A general term for plants in the gourd/cucurbit family and their fruits. Includes various types of melons, cucumbers, and gourds. In everyday usage, often refers to specific varieties like 真桑瓜(まくわうり) (Oriental melon).
夏(なつ)は瓜(うり)が美味(おい)しい季節(きせつ)だ。
Summer is the season when melons are delicious.
畑(はたけ)で瓜(うり)を育(そだ)てている。
I'm growing melons in the field.
親子(おやこ)の顔(かお)がそっくりで、まさに瓜(うり)二(ふた)つだった。
The parent and child looked exactly alike — they were like two halves of a melon.

Common expressions

瓜(うり)二(ふた)つ — literally "two melons," meaning two things (usually people) that look exactly alike. Comes from the idea that when you split a melon in half, the two pieces are identical. One of the most commonly used idioms involving 瓜(うり).

Writing

The kanji 瓜(うり) is visually similar to 爪(つめ) (nail/claw). A common mnemonic: 瓜(うり) has a stroke inside (the seed), while 爪(つめ) does not.

Compounds

  • 胡瓜(きゅうり): cucumber
  • 西瓜(すいか): watermelon
  • 冬瓜(とうがん): winter melon
  • 南瓜(かぼちゃ): pumpkin/squash
  • 真桑瓜(まくわうり): Oriental melon
general
Added 2026.2.26 18:51 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
13500/13597_uri