1.
reed; common reed
A tall grass that grows in wetlands, along rivers, and in marshy areas. Used historically for thatching, mat-making, and as a literary symbol.
川辺に葦が茂っている。
Reeds are growing thick along the riverbank.
風が吹くと葦が一斉に揺れた。
When the wind blew, the reeds all swayed together.
パスカルは「人間は考える葦である」という有名な言葉を残した。
Pascal left the famous words, 'Man is a thinking reed.'
Also read as よし. The alternate reading よし arose because あし sounds like 悪し (bad), so the euphemistic reading よし (良し, good) was adopted. Both readings are correct.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 葦が茂る (reeds grow thick)
- 葦原 (reed field, reed bed)
- 葦の葉 (reed leaves)
- 葦簀 (reed screen/blind — note: usually read よしず)
CULTURAL NOTES:
The phrase 考える葦 (thinking reed) from Pascal's Pensées is widely known in Japan. 葦原 also appears in classical texts as part of 葦原の中つ国, an ancient name for Japan.