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とうきび Japanese meaning | Kotomora

とうきび

と

う

き

び

Meanings

1

noun

Indian millet; sorghum

usually written using kana alone

Refers to the grain Indian millet (sorghum). The word is usually written in kana.

北ほっ海かい道どうではとうきびを栽さい培ばいしている地ち域いきがある。
There are areas in Hokkaido where Indian millet is cultivated.

Written forms

とうきびUsage72%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 唐黍 is rare.
トウキビUsage17%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling, sometimes used for emphasis or in botanical contexts.
唐とう黍きびUsage11%
Rare kanji spelling; the word is normally written in kana.

Kanji

唐T'ang, China, foreign
黍millet

Etymology

The origin is uncertain; the kanji 唐黍 literally means 'Tang millet', suggesting a historical association with China.