青竹(あおだけ)

あおだけ
noun
green bamboo; fresh bamboo
plant-generalnature
1. green bamboo; fresh bamboo
Living, freshly cut bamboo, distinguished by its bright green color and flexibility. Used for crafts, garden fences, and traditional decorations.
青竹(あおだけ)の香(かお)り。
The scent of fresh bamboo.
青竹(あおだけ)で垣根(かきね)を作(つく)った。
I made a fence out of green bamboo.
The gardener built the enclosure of the tea room from freshly cut green bamboo.

Compound of 青(あお) (green/blue) + 竹(たけ) (bamboo). Note the rendaku: 竹(たけ) → だけ.

Usage

Refers specifically to bamboo that is still fresh and green, before it dries to a yellowish tan. The freshness matters for traditional uses such as tea ceremony utensils, New Year decorations, and crafts.

Common collocations

  • 青竹(あおだけ)を切(き)る: to cut green bamboo
  • 青竹(あおだけ)踏(ふ)み: green-bamboo foot massage (rolling the sole on a halved bamboo)
  • 青竹(あおだけ)色(いろ): green-bamboo color