きのこ

• Reading: きのこ
• Romaji: kinoko
• Kanji breakdown: 茸 (kinoko/take) — mushroom (kanji rarely used)
• Pronunciation: /ki.no.ko/

Meaning

Mushroom; fungus. An edible or wild fungal growth found in forests and used widely in cooking.

A noun referring to mushrooms of all varieties. Written in hiragana or katakana more commonly than the kanji 茸. Popular varieties include しいたけ (shiitake), まいたけ (maitake), and えのき (enoki). Japan has a rich mushroom culture, from foraging to cuisine. The kanji 茸 is rarely used in everyday writing.

Examples

1. 秋になると山できのこを採る人が増える。 When fall comes, more people go picking mushrooms in the mountains.
2. きのこの入った味噌汁が好きだ。 I like miso soup with mushrooms in it.
3. このきのこは食べられるか分からない。 I'm not sure if this mushroom is safe to eat.

Usage Guide

Context: cooking, nature, shopping

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From 木の子 (ki no ko, child of the tree), reflecting how mushrooms grow on or near trees. The kanji 茸 combines 艹 (grass radical) and 耳 (ear), depicting the ear-like shape of mushrooms growing from wood.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal