Meaning

Primary

Mulberry Field

Alternative

Kuwabara

Word Type

noun, proper noun

Explanation

A mulberry field is a mulberry field.

Based on an old belief that lightening does not strike mulberry fields, 桑原 (often recited twice, as in "桑原桑原") can also be used as a charm to ward off undesirable events, though it's pretty old-fashioned.

Apart from that use, 桑原 now mainly refers to the family name Kuwabara, like one of the main protagonists of the anime and manga series 幽遊白書.

Reading

くわばら
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

These are both the kun'yomi readings, but you haven't learned this for yet. It's actually the rendaku'd version, so let's just use a mnemonic to remember it instead:

You know you're in a mulberry field when you see a bunch of capybaras (ばら) rolling around in there with you. Capybaras love mulberries! Picture a whole family of capybaras munching on mulberries. Mm Mmm!

Context

Patterns of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • 桑原さん

    Mr. Kuwabara, Ms. Kuwabara

    桑原先生

    Doctor Kuwabara, Professor Kuwabara

    桑原桑原

    a charm spoken to ward off undesirable events

Context Sentences

桑原さんに聞いてみましょう!

Let's ask Kuwabara-san!

えっ、こわっ!桑原桑原!

Wha-, how scary! Knock on wood that that won’t happen!

かつては桑畑がたくさんあったため、この場所は「桑原」と呼ばれるようになりました。

People started calling this place "Kuwabara" because there used to be a lot of mulberry fields here.

Kanji Composition