土

• Reading: つち
• Romaji: tsuchi
• Kanji breakdown: 土 (do/tsuchi) — earth, soil, ground
• Pronunciation: /tsɯ.tɕi/

Meaning

Earth; soil; dirt; ground. The natural material that plants grow in.

One of the most basic nature words. Also appears in compound words like 土地 (land), 土曜日 (Saturday), and 粘土 (clay). As a standalone word, it typically refers to the physical soil or ground.

Examples

1. 庭の土に花の種をまいた。 I planted flower seeds in the garden soil.
2. 雨の後で土が柔らかくなった。 The soil became soft after the rain.
3. 子供が土で遊んでいる。 The children are playing in the dirt.

Usage Guide

Context: gardening, nature, construction

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

One of the oldest Japanese words. The kanji 土 is a pictograph of a mound of earth rising from the ground.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal