木綿

• Reading: もめん
• Romaji: momen
• Kanji breakdown: 木 (moku/ki) — tree, wood; 綿 (men/wata) — cotton, floss
• Pronunciation: /mo.me.ɴ/

Meaning

Cotton; cotton fabric. A natural textile fibre used widely for clothing and household goods.

Refers to both the cotton plant fibre and cotton fabric. In everyday life, 木綿 often appears in the compound 木綿豆腐 (momen-doufu, firm tofu). For clothing and textiles, the loanword コットン (cotton) is also widely used. The word is read もめん in the native Japanese reading, though the kanji literally mean 'tree-silk.'

Examples

1. この服は木綿でできています。 This clothing is made of cotton.
2. 木綿のタオルは肌にやさしい。 Cotton towels are gentle on the skin.
3. 木綿豆腐と絹ごし豆腐、どちらがいいですか。 Would you prefer firm tofu or silken tofu?

Usage Guide

Context: textiles, clothing, cooking

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 木 (moku/ki, tree) and 綿 (men/wata, cotton/silk floss). The kanji literally mean 'tree cotton,' distinguishing plant-derived cotton fibre from animal-derived silk.

Cultural Context

Era: Pre-modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal