ゆりかご

noun

cradle; cot

1. cradle; cot for a baby

A small bed for an infant, typically one that can be rocked. Also used figuratively for the place where something originates or is nurtured.

赤(あか)ちゃんがゆりかごで眠(ねむ)っている。

The baby is sleeping in the cradle.

ゆりかごをそっと揺(ゆ)らす。

To gently rock the cradle.

この町(まち)は近代(きんだい)文学(ぶんがく)のゆりかごと呼(よ)ばれている。

This town is called the cradle of modern literature.

Usually written in hiragana, sometimes as 揺(ゆ)り籠(かご) (from 揺(ゆ)る 'to rock' + 籠(かご) 'basket'). Like English 'cradle', it has a figurative sense of the birthplace or nurturing ground of something.

Common collocations

ゆりかごを揺(ゆ)らす: to rock the cradle
ゆりかごから墓場(はかば)まで: from cradle to grave
文化(ぶんか)のゆりかご: the cradle of a culture

general

Added 2026.5.21 12:11 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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