This site will be taken down March 31st, 2026.

This was not an easy decision to make. For the last couple years, I have been struggling to find motivation for this site and to keep up with basic maintenance and security updates. With the rise of AI and more sophisticated tools, the usefulness of sites like this is questionable and traffic has nose-dived. I just don't have it in me to keep doing this. Thank you all for 10 years of support!

Zach

時鳥

子規、 不如帰、 杜鵑、 霍公鳥、 蜀魂、 沓手鳥、 杜宇、 田鵑、 沓直鳥、 郭公

Readings

Kana: ほととぎす、しき、ふじょき、とけん、しょっこん、くつてどり、とう、ホトトギス
Romaji: hototogisu, shiki, fujoki, token, shokkon, kutsutedori, tou, hototogisu
Kana
Romaji

Definition

1

lesser cuckoo (Cuculus poliocephalus)

Note: word usually written using kana alone

Kanji

Readings: ジ、 とき、 -どき
Meanings: time, hour
Readings: チョウ、 とり
Meanings: bird, chicken
Readings: シ、 ス、 ツ、 こ、 -こ、 ね
Meanings: child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM, first sign of Chinese zodiac
Reading: 
Meanings: standard, measure
Readings: フ、 ブ
Meanings: negative, non-, bad, ugly, clumsy
Readings: ジョ、 ニョ、 ごと.し
Meanings: likeness, like, such as, as if, better, best, equal
Readings: キ、 かえ.る、 かえ.す、 おく.る、 とつ.ぐ
Meanings: homecoming, arrive at, lead to, result in
Readings: ト、 トウ、 ズ、 もり、 ふさ.ぐ、 やまなし
Meanings: woods, grove
Reading: ケン
Meaning: cuckoo
Readings: カク、 にわか
Meanings: quick, sudden
Readings: コウ、 ク、 おおやけ
Meanings: public, prince, official, governmental
Readings: ショク、 ゾク、 いもむし
Meanings: green caterpillar, Szechwan
Readings: コン、 たましい、 たま
Meanings: soul, spirit
Readings: トウ、 くつ
Meanings: shoes, boots
Readings: シュ、 ズ、 て、 て-、 -て、 た-
Meaning: hand
Reading: 
Meanings: eaves, roof, house, heaven
Readings: デン、 た
Meanings: rice field, rice paddy
Readings: チョク、 ジキ、 ジカ、 ただ.ちに、 なお.す、 -なお.す、 なお.る、 なお.き、 す.ぐ
Meanings: straightaway, honesty, frankness, fix, repair
Readings: カク、 くるわ
Meanings: enclosure, quarters, fortification, red-light district

杜鵑草

時鳥草、 油点草

Readings

Kana: ほととぎす、ほととぎすそう、ホトトギス、ホトトギスソウ
Romaji: hototogisu, hototogisusou, hototogisu, hototogisusou
Kana
Romaji

Definition

1

toad lily (Tricyrtis hirta)

Note: word usually written using kana alone

Kanji

Readings: ト、 トウ、 ズ、 もり、 ふさ.ぐ、 やまなし
Meanings: woods, grove
Reading: ケン
Meaning: cuckoo
Readings: ソウ、 くさ、 くさ-、 -ぐさ
Meanings: grass, weeds, herbs, pasture, write, draft
Readings: ジ、 とき、 -どき
Meanings: time, hour
Readings: チョウ、 とり
Meanings: bird, chicken
Readings: ユ、 ユウ、 あぶら
Meanings: oil, fat
Readings: テン、 つ.ける、 つ.く、 た.てる、 さ.す、 とぼ.す、 とも.す、 ぼち
Meanings: spot, point, mark, speck, decimal point