柴刈(しばか)り

しばかり
noun
gathering brushwood; cutting firewood
daily-lifeculture
1. gathering brushwood; cutting small wood for fuel
Going into the hills to cut brushwood and twigs for fuel, a routine chore in rural Japan before gas and electricity. Now known mainly from folktales.
おじいさんは山(やま)へ柴刈(しばか)りに行(い)きました。
The old man went to the mountains to gather firewood.
昔(むかし)の農家(のうか)では、柴刈(しばか)りは子(こ)どもの仕事(しごと)でもあった。
On farms in the old days, gathering brushwood was also a job for children.
桃太郎(ももたろう)の「柴刈(しばか)り」を、芝生(しばふ)を刈(か)ることだと思(おも)っていた。
I used to think the しばかり in Momotarō meant mowing the lawn.

Best known from the opening of the Momotarō story: おじいさんは山(やま)へ柴刈(しばか)りに、おばあさんは川(かわ)へ洗濯(せんたく)に. 柴(しば) is brushwood, the small trees and branches gathered for fuel.

Watch out

Not 芝刈(しばか)り (lawn mowing). The two are pronounced the same, and learners and children alike often picture the old man mowing grass.

Related words

Related Words

Homophone: 芝刈(しばか)り (lawn mowing)
Related: 薪(まき) (firewood)
general
Added 2026.9.27 4:57 · Revised 2026.9.27 4:58
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