hokku
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of hokku
First recorded in 1895–1900; from Japanese, from hok “departure, start” (akin to Cantonese faat, Korean bal, Mandarin fā ) + ku “phrase, stanza” (akin to Cantonese geoi, Korean gu, Mandarin jù )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The most famous hokku that Bashō wrote, might be literally translated thus: "An old pond And the sound of a frog leaping Into the water."
From Japanese Prints by Lathrop, Dorothy Pulis
He reformed the hokku, by introducing into everything he wrote a deep spiritual significance underlying the words.
From Japanese Prints by Lathrop, Dorothy Pulis
The concluding hemistich, whereby the hokku becomes the tanka, is existent in the writer's mind, but never uttered.
From Japanese Prints by Lathrop, Dorothy Pulis
Composing hokku might, however, have remained a mere game of elaborate literary conceits and double meanings, but for the genius of one man.
From Japanese Prints by Lathrop, Dorothy Pulis
That is not to say, that, by taking the letter for the spirit, we should in any way strive to imitate the hokku form.
From Japanese Prints by Lathrop, Dorothy Pulis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
