ハッカ

also: はか

は

っ

か

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

noun

mint (general term)

usually written using kana alone

General term for mint plants, including peppermint and spearmint. Often used in compounds like ハッカ油 (peppermint oil) or ハッカ飴 (mint candy).

ハッカの香かおりが爽さわやかですね。
The scent of mint is refreshing, isn't it?
ハッカ油ゆを数すう滴てきたらすと、部屋へやがすっきりします。
Adding a few drops of peppermint oil makes the room feel fresh.

noun

Japanese peppermint; Mentha arvensis var. piperascens

usually written using kana alone

Specifically refers to the Japanese peppermint variety, a source of menthol. Often encountered in botanical or traditional medicine contexts.

日本にほん薄はっ荷かはメントールの原げん料りょうとして栽さい培ばいされています。
Japanese peppermint is cultivated as a source of menthol.

Written forms

ハッカUsage51%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is common for this plant name; usually written in kana.
薄荷Usage23%
- はっか
  Kanji spelling is rare and may not be recognized by all readers; usually written in kana.
- はか
  out-dated reading
はっかUsage19%
Hiragana spelling, also common.
はかUsage7%
out-dated reading
Obsolete kana reading; not used in modern Japanese.

Kanji

薄dilute, thin, weak (tea)
荷baggage, shoulder-pole load, bear (a burden)

Similar words

ミント
ミント is a more general loanword for mint, often used for Western mint flavors and products, while ハッカ tends to refer to the traditional Japanese peppermint or the plant itself.

Etymology

The kanji 薄荷 are Chinese in origin, but the Japanese reading はっか is a sound shift from the older reading はくか, which itself derives from Middle Chinese. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.

ハッカ

also: はか

は

っ

か

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

noun

mint (general term)

usually written using kana alone

General term for mint plants, including peppermint and spearmint. Often used in compounds like ハッカ油 (peppermint oil) or ハッカ飴 (mint candy).

ハッカの香かおりが爽さわやかですね。
The scent of mint is refreshing, isn't it?
ハッカ油ゆを数すう滴てきたらすと、部屋へやがすっきりします。
Adding a few drops of peppermint oil makes the room feel fresh.

noun

Japanese peppermint; Mentha arvensis var. piperascens

usually written using kana alone

Specifically refers to the Japanese peppermint variety, a source of menthol. Often encountered in botanical or traditional medicine contexts.

日本にほん薄はっ荷かはメントールの原げん料りょうとして栽さい培ばいされています。
Japanese peppermint is cultivated as a source of menthol.

Written forms

ハッカUsage51%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is common for this plant name; usually written in kana.
薄荷Usage23%
- はっか
  Kanji spelling is rare and may not be recognized by all readers; usually written in kana.
- はか
  out-dated reading
はっかUsage19%
Hiragana spelling, also common.
はかUsage7%
out-dated reading
Obsolete kana reading; not used in modern Japanese.

Kanji

薄dilute, thin, weak (tea)
荷baggage, shoulder-pole load, bear (a burden)

Similar words

ミント
ミント is a more general loanword for mint, often used for Western mint flavors and products, while ハッカ tends to refer to the traditional Japanese peppermint or the plant itself.