箸

• Reading: はし
• Romaji: hashi
• Kanji breakdown: 箸 (hashi/cho) — chopsticks (竹 radical indicates bamboo material)
• Pronunciation: /ha.ɕi/

Meaning

Chopsticks. The primary eating utensil in Japanese cuisine.

An essential part of Japanese dining culture with specific etiquette rules. For example, sticking chopsticks upright in rice (立て箸) is taboo as it resembles funeral rites. Polite form is お箸 (ohashi). Children learn to use chopsticks from a young age.

Examples

1. 箸を使って食べましょう。 Let's eat using chopsticks.
2. 箸の持ち方を教えてください。 Please teach me how to hold chopsticks.
3. お箸を二膳ください。 Two pairs of chopsticks, please.

Usage Guide

Context: meals, restaurants, home

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 箸 contains the bamboo radical 竹, reflecting that chopsticks were traditionally made from bamboo.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal