Keyword
leaf
Info
FrequencyTop 100
Type
Kyōiku (3rd grade) 
?
KankenLevel 8
Heisig243
Readings
(94%)
(3%)
よう
(1%)
Composed of
blades of grass
flat piece of wood
Mnemonic

A leaf is essentially a piece of grass growing out of an almost flat piece of wood.

Used in vocabulary (611 in total)
language; dialect; word; phrase; speech; (manner of) speaking
leaf; blade (of grass); (pine) needle
(your) words; what you say; what you have said; a few words (of welcome, advice, etc.)
to become speechless; to be at a loss for words
to speak to; to give a (something) talk to; to speak words of (something)
speech; expression; wording; language
to be at a loss for words
exactly as stated; verbatim
to express in a refined fashion; to weave a web of words
to stop talking; to break off; to pause
to reply; to respond; to answer; to talk back; to retort
to choose one's words (with care); to be careful with one's words
leaf; blade (of grass); (pine) needle; marijuana; cannabis
to talk; to speak
to be vague; to speak ambiguously; to be evasive; to not commit oneself
words of praise; eulogy; compliment
autumn colours; fall colors; leaves turning red; red leaves; leaves turning yellow; yellow leaves; (Japanese) maple (Acer japonicum)
foliage; leaves of trees
Chiba (city, prefecture)
tea leaf; tea leaves
to choke up; to be speechless; to hold one's tongue
counter for leaves, pieces of paper, etc.; (arch.) counter for boats
branches and leaves; foliage; unimportant details; nonessentials; side issue
fallen leaves; leaf litter; falling leaves
new leaves; young leaves; fresh verdure
with all due respect; I'm sorry, but ...; I'm afraid ...
to continue (to say)
to leave words (behind one, e.g. after death); to say (for posterity); to utter last words; to leave some things unsaid
fresh leaves
exactly as stated; verbatim
alluring words; endearing words; sugared words; sweet words; honeyed words; flattery
inquisitively; pryingly; nosily; thoroughly; persistently; through-and-through
at a loss for words; stumped for words
unfounded (e.g. rumour); groundless; baseless; completely untrue
A common name for the area around Akihabara Station in the Chiyoda ward of Tokyo, Japan, famous for being the centre of modern Japanese popular culture and a major shopping district for video games, anime, manga, electronics and computer-related goods.
password; watchword; motto; slogan
Chiba prefecture (Kanto area)
to speak to; to give a (something) talk to; to speak words of (something)
language of flowers; floriography; flower symbolism, e.g. red roses mean love
laconic; of few words; reticent; quiet
ornamental (foliage) plant; houseplant
to choke up; to be speechless; to hold one's tongue
seed leaves (of a dicot); cotyledons; bud; early stages; very beginning
word ending; way of ending one's words; slip of the tongue; verbal mistake
dead leaf; dry leaves
to accept a kind offer; to take someone up on their offer
postcard; memo; note; card
fallen leaves; leaf litter; leaf fall; dropping leaves; deciduous
word game; wordplay; playing with words
eighth month of the lunar calendar
dead leaf; dry leaves
one leaf; one page; one sheet; (arch.) one boat
to exhaust one's vocabulary (in trying to persuade somebody or explain something, etc.); to run out of words; to be verbose; to cajole; to talk someone's head off
crutch; crutches
to cut in; to butt in
speech; expression; wording; language
speech; expression; wording; language
words of praise; eulogy; compliment
lack of words; being tongue-tied; suppressing what you want to say
skillful words; deceitful words; glibness
pine needle
picture postcard
conifer; needle-leaved tree
password; watchword; motto; slogan
Word of God; God's Word; sword of the Spirit; Logos (i.e. the Trinity incarnate in Jesus Christ)
to choke up; to be speechless; to hold one's tongue
(arch.) word; waka (classic Japanese poem, esp. a tanka)
(your) words; what you say; what you have said; a few words (of welcome, advice, etc.)
rustling of leaves; rustling of grass
mitsuba (Cryptotaenia japonica); Japanese honewort; Japanese honeywort; three-leaved; trefoil
cherry tree in leaf; cherry tree whose blossoms have fallen, revealing the young leaves
humus; leaf mold; leaf mould; mulch
Man'yōshū (8th century anthology of Japanese poetry)
number of words; vocality
to say too much; to go too far
Man'yōshū (8th century anthology of Japanese poetry); (arch.) thousands of leaves; (arch.) thousands of years; (arch.) all ages
two flat things
blades of grass
to express in a refined fashion; to weave a web of words
under the sod; one's grave; the other world
mitsuba (Cryptotaenia japonica); Japanese honewort; Japanese honeywort; three-leaved; trefoil
to be at a loss for words
speech; expression; wording; language
beefsteak plant; perilla; megaphylls; (lit.) large leaf
conifer forest; coniferous forest; needle-leaved forest
plant having four leaves on one stalk
veins of a leaf
leafy vegetables; green vegetables
men's language; male language
seed leaves (of a dicot); cotyledons; bud; early stages; very beginning
words of praise; eulogy; compliment
to watch what one says; to mind one's language
women's language; word used by women
spoken language; colloquial expression
decayed leaves; russet; tawny; yellow-brown
greens; vegetable leaves; leaf vegetable
leaf apex; tip of the leaf
wood chip; splinter; worthless thing; worthless person
tofu skin; dried beancurd; delicacy made from the skin of gently boiled soybean milk
rustling of leaves; rustling of grass
autumn-leaf viewing; fall-leaf viewing
unable to find the words to thank someone; unable to thank someone enough
I can't find the words to thank you; I can never thank you enough
vulgar; wanton
baby talk; baby language; babbling
inflammatory words
inquisitively; pryingly; nosily; thoroughly; persistently; through-and-through
shadow of a leaf or tree
leaf vegetable; green vegetable; edible herb
unimportant details; inessentials
about the middle (of an era); middle lobe (right lung); median lobe (prostate)
leaves; foliage
autumn colours; fall colors; leaves turning red; red leaves; leaves turning yellow; yellow leaves; (Japanese) maple (Acer japonicum)
(Japanese) larch (Larix leptolepis, Larix kaempferi)
pine needle; small gift; souvenir
sound of rustling leaves
leaf vegetable; green vegetable; edible herb
to pounce on someone's words; to cavil at someone's words; to trip someone up with their own words
foliage plants
tip of a leaf
new leaves; fresh verdure
Tokyo and Chiba
family crest shaped as a hemp leaf; motif made from entwined hexagons
russet; tawny; yellow-brown
Angelica keiskei (species of angelica, a herb of the parsley family)
underside of a leaf
words used by young people; slang
lotus leaf; vulgar; wanton
at a loss for words; stumped for words
written word; written language
lower leaves
meaningless words; words that make no sense
common saying; slang; argot
sociolect emphasizing the femininity of the speaker (esp. used by homosexual men)
breeze rustling through leaves
blade of grass
Stevenson screen (louvre-sided box housing for meteorological gauges)
man'yōgana; early Japanese syllabary composed of Chinese characters used phonetically
sticker for new car drivers
word ending; way of ending one's words; slip of the tongue; verbal mistake
lobe; lobule; lobulus; leaflet; foliole; microphyll
leaf stalk; petiole
Kyoto dialect; Kyoto accent
blighted leaves; diseased leaves
to pounce on someone's words; to cavil at someone's words; to trip someone up with their own words
willow-leaf arrowhead; part of a Japanese stirrup; willow leaf
new leaves; young leaves; fresh verdure
crutch; crutches
shadow of a leaf or tree
shadow of a leaf or tree
floral leaf
end (of an era, century); close; descendant
at a loss for words; stumped for words
hiding in the leaves
word of Japanese origin; native Japanese word
local dialect; vernacular; provincialism
to choke up; to be speechless; to hold one's tongue
provincial dialect; rural dialect
ornamental kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephara)
upper lobe (of lung); superior lobe
broad-leaved forest; broadleaf forest
tampala; Joseph's coat; Amaranthus tricolor
decayed leaves; russet; tawny; yellow-brown
bloodline; lineage; family; clan
hinoki leaf; hiba false arborvitae (species of cypress, Thujopsis dolabrata); small ornamental false cypress (i.e. a variety of hinoki or a related species)
taboo word; euphemism (used in place of a taboo word)
weak tengu; small tengu
right lobe
dropping the "ra" in the potential form of verbs formed with "-rareru"
snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio); queen crab; champagne crab (Hypothalassia armata)
between the leaves; through the leaves
compound leaf; biplane
thin Japanese paper (esp. vellum paper); Japanese tissue
cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior); baran; green plastic garnish (orig. made from leaf) used in lunch boxes, with sushi, etc.
(pine) needle; needle-leaf
Blossoms fall and leaves scatter; the evanescence (impermanence) of worldly things
evergreen (glossy-leaved) forest
large number of words; (lit.) sea of words
pressed leaves
cotyledon; seed leaf
Japanese white pine (favored for gardens and bonsai); goyoumatsu
skillful words; deceitful words; glibness
wood chip; splinter; worthless thing; worthless person
unfounded (e.g. rumour); groundless; baseless; completely untrue
to pounce on someone's words; to cavil at someone's words; to trip someone up with their own words
speech; expression; wording; language
beautiful shiny autumn leaves
broad-leaved tree
poetic style typical of Man'yōshū
God's word; word of God
leaves; foliage
stinging (barbed) words; harsh language
true leaf; foliage leaf
word-hunting; search for and censorship of politically incorrect words
member of the Imperial family; royalty; beautiful clouds
working-class accent or dialect
stems and leaves
autumn-leaf viewing; fall-leaf viewing
inquisitively; pryingly; nosily; thoroughly; persistently; through-and-through
pillow word; decorative word used prefixally in classical Japanese literature; preface; introduction
lime-leaved maple (Acer distylum)
word said backwards; word of opposite meaning
hinoki leaf; hiba false arborvitae (species of cypress, Thujopsis dolabrata); small ornamental false cypress (i.e. a variety of hinoki or a related species)
(light blue) overalls; workman's overalls
simple leaf; monoplane
(light blue) overalls; workman's overalls
leaves; foliage
preceding page; anterior pituitary
taboo word; euphemism (used in place of a taboo word)
russet; tawny; yellow-brown
unable to find the words to thank someone; unable to thank someone enough
mulberry leaf
falling paulownia leaf signaling the beginning of autumn (fall)
postcard; memo; note; card
magnolia leaves grilled with miso and negi
greens; vegetable leaves; leaf vegetable
buzzword; popular expression; vogue word or phrase
Akihabara style; nerdy
Japanese white pine (favored for gardens and bonsai)
beginning of an epoch; initial period
thin sheet of silver; silver foil; censer; incense burner made of a sheet of mica hemmed by silver and placed on charcoal embers, used in incense-smelling ceremony; Japanese mountain ash (Sorbus japonica); Japanese whitebeam
leaf insect (esp. species Phyllium pulchrifolium)
polite language used by women
secret language of court ladies (Muromachi period)
New Year's postcard
posterity; future generations; descendant; posterior pituitary; neurohypophysis
East Asian evergreen forest culture (theory)
genius shows from childhood; (lit.) the Japanese bead tree is fragrant from when a sprout
wet fallen leaves; retired men who get underfoot at home
spoken language; spoken words; language
figure of speech
trailing ice plant (Lampranthus spectabilis)
type of theater which combines elements of noh, kyogen, and kabuki with dances and popular songs (theatre)
pulmonary lobe; lobe of the lung
God's word; word of God
vernacular; local dialect
four-letter word (esp. in English)
steamed bun shaped like a maple leaf
broken into small fragments; smashed to atoms; fragments and splinters; smithereens
sociolect emphasizing the femininity of the speaker (esp. used by homosexual men)
Japanese white pine (Pinus parviflora)
false daphne (Daphniphyllum macropodum); yuzuriha
burning fallen leaves; autumn leaf burning
laminitis; founder
local dialect; vernacular; provincialism; national language
lotus leaf
secret language; argot
thin paper (esp. thin Japanese vellum paper)
snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio); queen crab; champagne crab (Hypothalassia armata)
moss-rose purslane (Portulaca grandiflora)
Kassapa Buddha; Kasyapa Buddha; Kashyapa Buddha
word of Japanese origin; native Japanese word
Man'yōshū (8th century anthology of Japanese poetry)
lack of words; being tongue-tied; suppressing what you want to say
meaningless words added a song for rhythmical effect; words or utterances added to modulate the cadence of a song
dried leaves; dried daikon leaves
pattra (palmyra leaves used in Ancient India for writing upon)
Chamisso's lousewort (Pedicularis chamissonis var. japonica)
maple; scarlet-tinged ivy
first maple leaves to turn red in the season
bureaucratic jargon; officialese; gobbledygook
In the beginning was the Word
match made in heaven; perfect match; great coupling; (lit.) sika deer and maple leaves (a common motif in poetry and classical Japanese painting)
filler word; filler phrase
to make a pun on a word
grated daikon and chili; whole daikon with a chili notched inside and then grated together; grated daikon and carrot
scale leaf (forming part of a bulb)
daikon, etc. trimmings, usu. added to rice
kakekotoba; pivot word; play on words (esp. in poetry); pun
spoken language; colloquial expression
between the leaves; through the leaves
official (government) postcard; postal card
leaf tobacco
bureaucratic jargon; officialese; gobbledygook
center of the Garbhadhatu mandala (containing Mahavairocana and eight Buddhas)
to make a pun on a word
leaf tobacco
shishamo smelt (Spirinchus lanceolatus)
tin plate
end leaves; top leaves; last leaves
steamed bun shaped like a maple leaf
leaf withering
dried leaves; dried daikon leaves
plantain (esp. Asian plantain, Plantago asiatica)
lobe of the liver
brown hawk owl (Ninox scutulata)
word game; wordplay; playing with words
word created by retaining the first syllable (or two) of a word and suffixing it with the word "moji"
weak tengu; small tengu
Dactylostalix ringens (species of orchid); rigid Dactylostalix
bract (leaf)
whisk fern (Psilotum nudum)
trunk leaves; leaves near the base of a stem
thick Japanese paper (esp. vellum paper)
meaningless words added a song for rhythmical effect; words or utterances added to modulate the cadence of a song
lusterleaf holly (Ilex latifolia); pattra (palmyra leaves used in Ancient India for writing upon)
palm-leaf manuscript
next page
repeated word or phrase; redundant wording; succession of words of similar meaning; pleonasm
sa-added word (i.e. causative forms with an extra 'sa' like 'ikasaseru' for 'iku')
foreword to a collection of poems; preface; explanatory notes; captions
sociolect emphasizing the femininity of the speaker (esp. used by homosexual men)
buzzword; popular expression; vogue word or phrase
leaf beetle (of family Chrysomelidae)
the refined speech of the uptown residents of Tokyo
postcard with a reply card attached
sake heated by burning fallen leaves
a promise or pledge
to be evasive; to be not entirely truthful; to not be frank
there are exceptions to every rule; (lit.) rocks will flow and leaves will sink
burning fallen leaves; autumn leaf burning
leafy vegetables; stem vegetables
radical leaf; rosette
island language; island dialect
polite language used by women
Asteraceae flowering plant (Parasenecio delphiniifolius)
filled pause (e.g. um, er); filler word
samurai words and phrases
deciduous (e.g. tree)
words of praise; eulogy; compliment
dictionary; lexicon
word ending; way of ending one's words; slip of the tongue; verbal mistake
sterile frond
Eurasian scops owl (Otus scops)
local dialect; vernacular; provincialism
grated daikon and chili; whole daikon with a chili notched inside and then grated together; grated daikon and carrot
stinging (barbed) words; harsh language
landlocked masu salmon
beautiful shiny autumn leaves
sorrel (Rumex acetosa); Common sorrel; garden sorrel; spinach dock
Cellana nigrolineata (species of limpet)
scarlet rosemallow (Hibiscus coccineus)
Futabasaurus suzukii (species of plesiosaur)
spider mite (any mite of family Tetranychidae)
brown hawk owl (Ninox scutulata)
end leaves; top leaves; last leaves
dipterocarp (any plant of genus Dipterocarpus)
dipterocarp (any plant of genus Dipterocarpus)
Japanese maple (Acer palmatum)
collared scops owl (Otus bakkamoena)
filler word; filler phrase
daikon, etc. trimmings, usu. added to rice
Hosta montana (species of plantain lily)
capelin; caplin (Mallotus villosus)
Christmas cactus; crab cactus
bract (leaf)
Asteraceae flowering plant (Parasenecio delphiniifolius)
Chinese fringe tree (Chionanthus retusus)
Chinese fringe tree (Chionanthus retusus)
countryside dialect; sociolect or secret language used by prostitutes in red-light districts during the Edo period
palm-leaf manuscript
Japanese ginseng (Panax japonicus)
repeated word or phrase; redundant wording; succession of words of similar meaning; pleonasm
sa-added word (i.e. causative forms with an extra 'sa' like 'ikasaseru' for 'iku')
sharp parting remark
(postal) reply card; international reply coupon
return, postage-paid postcard
stinging words; biting remarks
unofficial postcard; private mailing card
germ layer; germinal epithelium
Siebold maple; acer sieboldianum
plant native to eastern Russia and Hokkaido (Mimulus sessilifolius Maxim. p)
sociolect or secret language used by prostitutes in red-light districts (Edo period); vulgar words used by prostitutes (Edo period)
sociolect or secret language used by prostitutes in red-light districts (Edo period); vulgar words used by prostitutes (Edo period)
Japanese (language)
absolutely (not); (not) at all
absolutely (not); (not) at all
adenohypophyseal hormone
neurohypophyseal hormone
Ecclesiastes (book of the Bible); (lit.) words of Qohelet
phyllotaxis; phyllotaxy
Order of the Precious Crown, Apricot
mountain language (euphemisms used by hunters, etc. when in the wild)
sticker for car drivers 70 years or older
sticker for car drivers 70 years or older
Viburnum plicatum var. plicatum
Prunus cerasifera var. atropurpurea; pissard plum
foliaceous; foliaceus
language used by the harlots of the Yoshiwara red light district during the Edo period
cladophyll; cladode; phylloclade
leaf lettuce
language used when writing letters
sunlight sifting through the tree leaves
sunlight sifting through the tree leaves
seasonal word (in haiku)
rice-bran bag (used for scrubbing the skin when bathing)
sunscald; leaf scald; leaf scorch
foliage; leaves of trees
ninth lunar month
high-quality leaves (e.g. green onions, tobacco, tea)
regular postcard; ordinary postcard
green barley; barley grass
mulberry leaf powder
word to soften awkward topics (esp. refusal in business conversation, e.g. "I am afraid that ...")
sclerophyll forest; sclerophyllous forest; hardwood forest
sclerophyllous tree
petiole wing (leaf)
omasum; psalterium; third compartment of the stomach in ruminants
euphemisms used by superstitious sailors (e.g. calling sardines "sundries", whales "Ebisu", etc.)
word consisting of (two) repeated syllables
word consisting of (two) repeated syllables
unable to find adequate words (e.g. to express feelings); being at a loss for words
maple tree not yet turned red; kasane color combination (green at front and russet behind)
old leaf; old leaves
artificial leaf
fallen red persimmon leaves
pruning excess leaves; leaf thinning
radical leaf; rosette; basal leaf
layered colors in garments, resembling autumn colors
comparing autumn leaves to a garment; layered garments that mimic the colours of autumn leaves (worn from the 9th to the 11th month of the lunar calendar)
comparing beautiful autumn leaves to a garment
words betray one's character
upper leaves
lower lobe (of lung); inferior lobe
teyo-dawa speech; mid-Meiji period schoolgirl slang in which sentence-end particles "teyo" and "dawa" were used prominently
autumn foliage front; fall foliage front
textspeak; texting language; typed language; abbreviated language and slang commonly used in text messages, email, etc.
textspeak; texting language; typed language; abbreviated language and slang commonly used in text messages, email, etc.
pine oil; pine-needle oil
rice with dried daikon leaves
rice with dried daikon leaves
reddish-yellow (colour); russet
word of Japanese origin; native Japanese word; waka; classic Japanese poem
a straw will show which way the wind blows; a falling leaf shows that autumn has come
for gifts, it's the thought that counts
for gifts, it's the thought that counts
end leaves; top leaves; last leaves; descendant
anterior pituitary; pars distalis; adenohypophysis
adding a superfluous "re" to the potential form of a godan verb
floating-leaved plant; floating plant
kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala)
willow-leafed magnolia (Magnolia salicifolia); anise magnolia
sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua); redgum
Japanese flowering ash (Fraxinus sieboldiana)
postcards with the bottom third of the front side reserved for an advertisement, and sold at a lower cost than regular postcards
Donacia provostii (species of leaf beetle)
Donacia provostii (species of leaf beetle)
leaf beetle (of subfamily Donaciinae)
Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata)
Asian fairy bluebird (Irena puella)
leafy lespedeza (Lespedeza cyrtobotrya)
leafbird; fairy bluebird
common morning glory (Ipomoea purpurea)
Paris verticillata (flowering plant closely related to herb Paris)
sweet woodruff (Asperula odorata)
Hosta sieboldii (species of plantain lily)
Disanthus cercidifolius (species of witch-hazel)
Arctic wrack (Fucus evanescens)
our lady's bedstraw (Galium verum); yellow bedstraw
Rubus palmatus var. coptophyllus (specific variety of raspberry)
Lecanorchis japonica (species of saprophytic orchid)
nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
Asarum caulescens (species of wild ginger)
Asarum caulescens (species of wild ginger)
Chamaecyparis obtusa var. breviramea (ornamental variety of hinoki cypress)
Chamaecyparis obtusa var. breviramea (ornamental variety of hinoki cypress)
Astropecten scoparius (species of starfish)
unicorn leatherjacket (Aluterus monoceros)
unicorn leatherjacket (Aluterus monoceros)
Hypodytes rubripinnis (species of waspfish)
Hypodytes rubripinnis (species of waspfish)
mitsuba (Cryptotaenia japonica); Japanese honewort; Japanese honeywort; Japanese chervil; Japanese parsley
Lanceolaria grayana (species of freshwater mussel)
Siebold's wild ginger (Asarum sieboldii)
Salix urbaniana (species of willow)
Selaginella tamariscina (species of spikemoss)
needle spikerush (Eleocharis acicularis)
fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata)
Cephalanthera longibracteata (species of orchid)
Ephippianthus schmidtii (species of orchid)
Microtis unifolia (species of orchid)
deep-veined maple (Acer argutum)
box elder (Acer negundo); boxelder maple; ash-leaved maple; maple ash; ashleaf maple
box elder (Acer negundo); boxelder maple; ash-leaved maple; maple ash; ashleaf maple
box elder (Acer negundo); boxelder maple; ash-leaved maple; maple ash; ashleaf maple
Amami pine (Pinus amamiana); Yakushima white pine
Atlas broom (Argyrocytisus battandieri)
Cercidiphyllum magnificum (species of katsura)
Ophiopogon planiscapus (flowering plant in the Asparagaceae family)
Maianthemum yesoense (flowering plant in the Asparagaceae family)
Asarum caulescens (species of wild ginger)
sand sifting starfish (Astropecten polyacanthus); comb star
Penepatella stellaeformis (species of limpet)
Penepatella stellaeformis (species of limpet)
mother tongue (from the island where one was raised); Okinawan neologism (developed by the language revival movement)
Chinese flowering ash (Fraxinus lanuginosa form. serrata)
Chinese flowering ash (Fraxinus lanuginosa form. serrata)
Chinese flowering ash (Fraxinus lanuginosa form. serrata)
sugi spider mite (Oligonychus hondoensis)
Examples (200 in total)
Those were his actual words.
I can't figure out what he is saying.
I gathered from her words that she liked him.