haiku

IPA/ˈhaɪkuː/
KK[hˈaɪku]IPA/ˈhaɪkuː/

haiku — noun

  • haikusingular
  • haikusplural

1. A short type of poem from Japan with a tradition of three unrhymed lines followi

1.nountransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

A short type of poem from Japan with a tradition of three unrhymed lines following a five-seven-five syllable pattern, usually about a moment in nature.

Example

The teacher asked the class to write a haiku about autumn leaves.

collocation: write a haiku about [topic]

My grandmother wrote a beautiful haiku about the cherry blossoms in her garden.

Common collocations
  • write a haiku
  • compose a haiku
  • read a haiku
  • submit a haiku
  • haiku poem
  • haiku about nature
  • traditional haiku
  • Japanese haiku
  • modern haiku
Synonyms
  • tanka

    A longer Japanese poem with five lines and a 5-7-5-7-7 syllable pattern; haiku has only three lines.

  • senryu

    Similar three-line form but focuses on human nature and humour rather than the natural world.

Grammar Patterns

a + haiku (singular countable)

two haiku (invariable plural)

write + haiku (uncountable, no article)

haiku + about / on + topic

Usage Note

The plural is usually haiku (not haikus), though haikus is sometimes used informally. This noun can be countable (a haiku, three haiku) or uncountable (she writes haiku).

Common Mistakes

I wrote a haiku that rhymed at the end of each line.
I wrote a haiku with no rhyme at all.
Traditional haiku do not use rhyme, unlike many English poems.
I wrote a haikus about my cat.
I wrote a haiku about my cat.
Haiku is usually invariable in the plural; it does not add -s.

Word family

  • haikuist
    nounC2
  • haiku-like
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four are short poetic forms, but they differ in structure, origin, and subject matter. A haiku is a three-line Japanese poem with a 5-7-5 syllable pattern that traditionally describes a moment in nature. A tanka is an older, longer Japanese form with five lines (5-7-5-7-7) that often expresses personal feelings. A senryu shares the haiku's three-line structure but focuses on human behaviour and humour rather than the natural world. A limerick is a five-line English comic poem with an AABBA rhyme scheme and a strong rhythm. A sonnet is a fourteen-line poem with a formal rhyme scheme, typically exploring love or philosophy. Among these, haiku and senryu are the only ones that never rhyme.

tanka ↗senryulimericksonnet ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • write haiku
  • compose a haiku
  • in the style of a haiku
  • a haiku about nature

Prepositions

Etymology

JapaneseEnglish

Haiku comes from Japanese, where it was shortened from haikai no renga ('comic linked verse') and hokku ('starting verse'). The word is made up of hai (meaning 'comic' or 'light') and ku (meaning 'phrase' or 'verse'). It entered English in the late 19th century as Japanese poetry became known in the West.