Japanese symbol for “hay”

干し草

ほしくさ

Romaji: hoshikusa

hay; dry grass

In Japanese, hay is 干し草, read ほしくさ (hoshikusa).

Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.

Meanings

n hay; dry grass

Written forms: 干し草、干草、乾し草、乾草. Readings: ほしくさ、ほしぐさ.

Kanji and stroke order

干

dry, parch, ebb

on: カン
kun: ほ.す、ほ.し-、-ぼ.し、ひ.る

3 strokes · JLPT 2

草

grass, weeds, herbs

on: ソウ
kun: くさ、くさ-、-ぐさ

9 strokes · JLPT 2

Other Japanese words for “hay”

Word	Reading	Meaning
枯れ草	かれくさ karekusa	dry grass; dead grass; hay
乾草	かんそう kansou	hay; dry grass
乾芻	かんすう kansuu	hay
馬草	まぐさ magusa	fodder (for horses or cows); hay; feed

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
若干	じゃっかん jakkan	some; few; a number of
干渉	かんしょう kanshou	interference; intervention; meddling
梅干し	うめぼし umeboshi	umeboshi; pickled dried ume; pickled dried plum
干す	ほす hosu	to air; to dry; to desiccate
干潟	ひがた higata	tidal flat; tideland
物干し	ものほし monohoshi	frame for drying clothes; clotheshorse
煙草	タバコ tabako	tobacco; cigarette; cigar
草原	そうげん sougen	grassy field; grassland; meadow