からかさ
noun
traditional oiled-paper umbrella
toolculture
1. traditional oiled-paper umbrella; paper umbrella
A traditional Japanese umbrella made of oiled washi paper stretched over a bamboo frame. Now mostly seen at temples, tea ceremonies, and in traditional or theatrical settings rather than in daily use.
I walk through the rain holding a paper umbrella.
My grandmother treasures and uses an old paper umbrella.
At the tea gathering, a red paper umbrella had been set up in the garden.

A traditional umbrella of oiled paper over a bamboo frame. The name literally means "Tang (Chinese) umbrella," reflecting its origin, though it became a distinctly Japanese craft. Also written (からかさ) and sometimes read からかさ.

Common collocations

  • 唐傘(からかさ)さす: to hold up a paper umbrella
  • 番傘(ばんがさ): a plain, sturdy oiled-paper umbrella (a type of 唐傘(からかさ))

Similar words

  • 和傘(わがさ): Japanese umbrella — the general term for traditional paper-and-bamboo umbrellas.
  • (かさ): umbrella — the ordinary modern word, usually a Western-style umbrella.