飾り

• Reading: かざり
• Romaji: kazari
• Kanji breakdown: 飾 (kazari/shoku) — decorate, adorn, ornament
• Pronunciation: /ka.za.ɾi/

Meaning

Decoration; ornament. Something used to make a place or object more attractive.

A noun derived from the verb 飾る (to decorate). Used for physical decorations like holiday ornaments, hair accessories, and room decorations. Also used figuratively as in 飾りのない (unadorned, straightforward). Common compounds include 髪飾り (hair ornament) and 飾り付け (decorating).

Examples

1. クリスマスツリーに飾りをつけた。 I put decorations on the Christmas tree.
2. 玄関にお正月の飾りを置いた。 I placed New Year's decorations at the entrance.
3. 彼女の話し方には飾りがない。 Her way of speaking is unadorned and straightforward.

Usage Guide

Context: holidays, interior design, fashion

Tone: positive

Origin & History

From the verb 飾る (to decorate). The kanji 飾 combines 食 (food, here phonetic) and 巾 (cloth), originally suggesting adorning with cloth or textiles.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal