1.
raw cotton; cotton fiber; cotton boll
The fluffy white fiber harvested from cotton plants, used as a raw material for textiles. Refers to cotton in its unprocessed or minimally processed state.
The raw cotton fiber from cotton plants. Composed of 綿 (cotton) + 花 (flower/blossom), referring to the fluffy boll that resembles a flower. Specifically refers to unprocessed cotton as a crop or commodity.
Common collocations
- 綿花の栽培: cotton cultivation
- 綿花を収穫する: to harvest cotton
- 綿花の輸入: cotton imports
- 綿花畑: cotton field
- 綿花相場: cotton market price
Related words
- 綿: cotton, padding — the everyday word for cotton; also used for cotton batting and padding
- 木綿: cotton (fabric) — processed cotton cloth; the material used for clothing
- 真綿: silk wadding — despite containing 綿, this refers to silk, not cotton
Cultural note
Japan imported significant quantities of raw cotton during industrialization. Today, Japan imports nearly all its cotton. Historically, cotton cultivation was important in regions like 大阪 and the 瀬戸内 area.