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Words Kanji Guides About

たらい Japanese meaning | Kotomora

たらい

た

ら

い

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

noun

tub; washbasin; washbowl

usually written using kana alone

A traditional round, shallow basin used for washing hands, face, or laundry. Often associated with Japanese-style bathing or household chores.

祖そ母ぼはたらいで洗せん濯たくをしていた。
My grandmother used to do laundry in a washbasin.
庭にわに置おいてあるたらいに水みずを張はった。
I filled the tub in the garden with water.

Written forms

たらいUsage36%
Usually written in kana; the kanji 盥 is rare and not commonly used.
盥たらいUsage38%
Rare kanji form; learners are unlikely to encounter it.
タライUsage26%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling, sometimes used for emphasis or in informal contexts.

Kanji

盥tub, washbasin

Similar words

洗せん面めん器き
Refers to a modern washbasin or basin for washing the face, often made of plastic or enamel, while たらい is a traditional wooden or metal tub.
バケツ
A bucket, typically deeper and used for carrying water or other liquids, whereas たらい is wider and shallower, designed for washing.

Etymology

The word is of native Japanese origin. The kanji 盥 is a rare character that combines 水 (water) and 皿 (dish), but the word itself is not derived from the kanji.