四角い

• Reading: しかくい
• Romaji: shikakui
• Kanji breakdown: 四 (shi/yon) — four; 角 (kaku/kado) — corner, angle
• Pronunciation: /ɕi.ka.kɯ.i/

Meaning

Square; rectangular. Describes objects with angular, box-like shapes.

An i-adjective meaning square or rectangular. Formed from the noun 四角 (shikaku = square/rectangle) plus い. Less commonly used than 丸い but important for describing shapes. The noun form 四角 can also mean rectangle. Conjugates regularly: 四角くない, 四角かった.

Examples

1. 四角い箱にプレゼントを入れました。 I put the present in a square box.
2. この部屋は四角くて広いです。 This room is square and spacious.
3. 四角い形のパンを買いました。 I bought square-shaped bread.

Usage Guide

Context: shapes, descriptions, objects

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 四 (four) and 角 (corner/angle), literally meaning four-cornered. The concept reflects the geometric description common across many languages.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal