波

• Reading: なみ
• Romaji: nami
• Kanji breakdown: 波 (ha/nami) — wave
• Pronunciation: /na.mi/

Meaning

A wave; undulation of water, sound, or other phenomena.

A noun used for both literal ocean waves and figurative waves of emotion, trends, or phenomena. Common expressions: 波に乗る (nami ni noru, to ride a wave / to catch a trend), 波が高い (nami ga takai, the waves are high). Also used in compounds: 電波 (denpa, radio waves), 音波 (onpa, sound waves), 脳波 (nouha, brain waves).

Examples

1. 今日は波が高いから泳がないほうがいい。 The waves are high today, so it's better not to swim.
2. サーフィンで大きな波に乗った。 I rode a big wave while surfing.
3. 彼は成功の波に乗っている。 He's riding the wave of success.

Usage Guide

Context: ocean, weather, trends

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 波 combines 氵 (water radical) and 皮 (skin/surface), depicting the undulating surface of water.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal