畔(ほとり)

ほとり
noun
edge of a body of water; shore; bank
1. edge of a body of water; shore; bank; lakeside
The area immediately beside a lake, river, pond, or sea. A somewhat literary word, often used in descriptive or poetic writing rather than casual speech.
湖(みずうみ)の畔(ほとり)を歩(ある)いた。
I walked along the lakeside.
川(かわ)の畔(ほとり)に小(ちい)さな家(いえ)が建(た)っていた。
A small house stood on the riverbank.
池(いけ)の畔(ほとり)で本(ほん)を読(よ)みながら、静(しず)かな午後(ごご)を過(す)ごした。
I spent a quiet afternoon reading a book by the pond.

A literary word for the edge of a body of water, typically combined with the body of water using の.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 湖(みずうみ)の畔(ほとり): lakeside
  • 川(かわ)の畔(ほとり): riverbank
  • 池(いけ)の畔(ほとり): pond's edge
  • 海(うみ)の畔(ほとり): seashore (less common; 海辺(うみべ) is more usual)

REGISTER:

畔(ほとり) has a literary, slightly poetic feel. In ordinary speech, more concrete words are preferred:

  • 湖畔(こはん): lakeside (formal/written compound)
  • 川岸(かわぎし) / 川辺(かわべ): riverbank (everyday)
  • 海辺(うみべ): seaside (everyday)
general
Added 2026.5.13 8:52
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