俳句

• Reading: はいく
• Romaji: haiku
• Kanji breakdown: 俳 (hai) — comic, playful (from haikai tradition); 句 (ku) — verse, phrase
• Pronunciation: /hai.kɯ/

Meaning

Haiku; a traditional Japanese poem of 17 syllables in three lines (5-7-5), typically evoking nature, a season, and a single vivid moment.

A noun for one of the world's most compact poetic forms. Haiku conventionally includes a kigo (季語, seasonal word) and a kireji (切れ字, cutting word) that creates a juxtaposition or pause. Associated with masters such as Matsuo Bashō, Yosa Buson, and Kobayashi Issa. Modern haiku (現代俳句) sometimes abandons classical rules, while traditional schools maintain them with strict fidelity.

Examples

1. 古池や蛙飛び込む水の音という芭蕉の俳句は世界中で知られている。 Bashō's haiku 'An old pond — a frog leaps in, sound of water' is known throughout the world.
2. 毎朝俳句を一句詠む習慣を続けることで、日常の細部が鮮やかに見えてくる。 By continuing the habit of composing one haiku each morning, the fine details of daily life come into vivid focus.
3. 俳句の魅力は、わずか十七音で世界を切り取る鋭さにある。 The charm of haiku lies in the sharpness of capturing the world in just seventeen syllables.

Usage Guide

Context: poetry, literature, education, traditional culture

Tone: reflective

Origin & History

Shortened from 俳諧の発句 (the opening verse of a haikai sequence). The term 俳句 was coined by Masaoka Shiki in the Meiji era to designate the independent 17-syllable poem.

Cultural Context

Era: Edo period to present

Generation: All ages

Social background: General