haiku

American  

[hahy-koo] / ˈhaɪ ku /

noun

plural

haiku

1. a major form of Japanese verse, written in 17 syllables divided into 3 lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables, and employing highly evocative allusions and comparisons, often on the subject of nature or one of the seasons.

2. a poem written in this form.

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haiku British  

/ ˈhaɪkuː /

noun

1. an epigrammatic Japanese verse form in 17 syllables

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haiku Cultural  

1. A form of Japanese poetry. A haiku expresses a single feeling or impression and contains three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables, respectively.

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Usage

What does haiku mean? Haiku is a traditional style of Japanese poetry in which 17 syllables are written in three lines, with the first line containing five syllables, the second line containing seven, and the third line containing five.The word haiku is also commonly used to refer to a poem written in this way. The plural is haiku, though it’s common to see people casually refer to haikus.For example:Haiku are poems. (five syllables)Haiku always have three lines (seven syllables)They often don’t rhyme. (five syllables)Traditional Japanese haiku often use natural subjects or imagery. This often involves using specific words that represent the seasons.However, for English speakers, haiku has become a popular style of poetry that can be about anything. Many people use haiku as a form for creating funny, entertaining, or absurd poems, using the 5-7-5 syllable format as a kind of challenge or guiding principle.

Etymology

Origin of haiku

First recorded in 1895–1900; from Japanese, from hai(kai) haikai + ku “stanza”; hokku

Example Sentences

Later in the record, “La Yugular” is a philosophical meditation on unity and oneness with lyrics in Spanish and Arabic, which suggests that the entire world might fit inside a haiku.

From The Wall Street Journal

The activities included things like drawing a tree or a mandala, writing haikus, mindful walking, talking about cycles of life and death in nature, and so on.

From Science Daily

Because haiku often capture emotionally meaningful moments in nature, the study authors say their findings could reveal which species resonate most with humans, possibly helping entomologists and educators identify opportunities for better public engagement.

From Science Magazine

Then he shared his screen to reveal a collection of texts and images — Van Gogh still lifes, Giacometti sculptures, Japanese haikus — saved in folders on his computer.

From New York Times

Japan has been a haiku in motion: disciplined, artistic and minimalist.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ballad
• composition
• epic
• lyric
• poetry
• rhyme
• sonnet
• verse
• writing