noun
Refers to bamboo plants in general, including various species of the subfamily Bambusoideae. Common in everyday contexts.
庭に竹が生えている。
Bamboo is growing in the garden.
竹でかごを編む。
Weave a basket from bamboo.
noun
middle rank
Used in a traditional three-tier ranking system (e.g., 松竹梅, pine-bamboo-plum) where 竹 represents the middle tier. Often seen in restaurant menus, gift sets, or performance ratings.
この料亭のコースは松竹梅の竹にあたる。
This restaurant's course corresponds to the middle tier of the pine-bamboo-plum ranking.
Native Japanese word. The kanji 竹 is a pictograph of bamboo stalks with leaves.