独楽

See also: 獨樂

Japanese

独楽 (koma, komatsuburi, komatsukuri, tsumukuri, dokuraku): a collection of spinning tops.

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
独	楽
Grade: 5	Grade: 2
irregular

Alternative spelling
獨樂 (kyūjitai)

Appears to be a shortening of older reading komatsukuri or komatsuburi (see below).

The shorter form koma is now the most common reading. The kanji spelling is an example of jukujikun (熟字訓).

Noun

1. a spinning top
2. (by extension) a rigid object that can rotate freely around a fixed point
3. a 家紋 (kamon, “family crest”) in the form or shape of a spinning top
4. a hexagonal or octagonal top, decorated with images and/or writing, used for gambling

   Synonym: 御花独楽 (ohanagoma)

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 独楽(こま)塗(ぬり), 独楽塗(こまぬ)り (komanuri)
• 独楽(コマ)鼠(ネズミ) (komanezumi)
• 独楽(こま)回(まわ)し (koma-mawashi)
• 唸(うな)り独楽(ごま) (unarigoma)
• 曲(きょく)独楽(ごま) (kyokugoma)
• 源水(げんすい)独楽(ごま) (Gensui-goma)
• ごんごん独楽(ごま) (gongon-goma)
• 杯(さかずき)独楽(ごま) (sakazuki-goma)
• 銭(ぜに)独楽(ごま) (zenigoma)
• 叩(たた)き独楽(ごま) (tatakigoma)
• 唐(とう)独楽(ごま) (tōgoma)
• 貝(ばい)独楽(ごま), 海蠃(ばい)独楽(ごま) (baigoma), 貝(べい)独楽(ごま) (beigoma)
• 花(はな)独楽(ごま) (hanagoma)
• 不精(ぶしょう)独楽(ごま), 無精(ぶしょう)独楽(ごま) (bushō-goma)

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
独	楽
Grade: 5	Grade: 2
irregular

Alternative spelling
獨樂 (kyūjitai)

Older form of koma above.

Compound of 高麗 (Koma, “Goryeo; China; foreign lands”) +‎ つぶり (tsuburi, “round thing”, cognate with 円ら (tsubura), “round”).

Noun

1. (archaic, possibly obsolete) Same as こま (koma) above

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
独	楽
Grade: 5	Grade: 2
irregular

Alternative spelling
獨樂 (kyūjitai)

Additional older form of koma above, attested in the Wamyō Ruijushō (938 CE).

Compound of 高麗 (Koma, “Goryeo; China; foreign lands”) +‎ 作り (tsukuri, “making; made thing”, the 連(れん)用(よう)形(けい) (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of the verb 作(つく)る (tsukuru, “to make”)).

Noun

1. (archaic, possibly obsolete) Same as こま (koma) above

Etymology 4

Kanji in this term
独	楽
Grade: 5	Grade: 2
irregular

Alternative spelling
獨樂 (kyūjitai)

Ancient alternative to koma above. Probably from 紡錘 (tsumu, “a spindle”, root of the verb 紡む (tsumugu), “to spin thread or yarn”) +‎ 繰り (kuri, “winding”, the 連(れん)用(よう)形(けい) (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of the verb 繰(く)る (kuru, “to wind something onto something else”)).

Occasionally also encountered with rendaku as tsumuguri.

Noun

1. (archaic, possibly obsolete) Same as こま (koma) above

Etymology 5

Kanji in this term
独	楽
どく Grade: 5	らく Grade: 2
goon

Alternative spelling
獨樂 (kyūjitai)

From Middle Chinese 獨樂 (MC duwk lak).

Adjective

1. fun or entertaining for one person alone

Usage notes

Used attributively with the particle の (no).

Noun

1. something fun or entertaining for one person alone
2. (uncommon) Same as こま (koma) above