hokku: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Literary, Academic
Quick answer
What does “hokku” mean?
The opening stanza of a traditional Japanese collaborative linked-verse poem (renga), which became the independent form now known as haiku.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The opening stanza of a traditional Japanese collaborative linked-verse poem (renga), which became the independent form now known as haiku.
A short, unrhymed Japanese verse form of three lines with a 5-7-5 syllable structure, focusing on a moment in nature, season, and often containing a 'cutting word' (kireji) for emotional or rhythmic effect. Historically, the precursor to modern haiku.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British academic or literary writing due to historical ties to Japanese studies.
Connotations
Scholarly, precise, historical. Using 'hokku' instead of 'haiku' signals knowledge of the form's literary evolution.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both variants. 'Haiku' is the dominant term in all contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “hokku” in a Sentence
The poet composed a hokku.The hokku traditionally consists of three lines.This hokku evokes a sense of autumn.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in literature, poetry, and East Asian studies courses to discuss the historical development of Japanese poetry.
Everyday
Extremely rare. The average speaker would use 'haiku'.
Technical
Used as a precise term in poetics and literary history to distinguish the original renga component from the standalone modern form.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hokku”
- Using 'hokku' interchangeably with 'haiku' in casual conversation, which may sound pretentious or overly technical.
- Misspelling as 'hooku' or 'hoku'.
- Assuming it is always a standalone poem rather than its original role as an opening stanza.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Historically, a hokku was the opening stanza of a 'renga' (linked verse). In the late 19th century, poet Masaoka Shiki promoted the term 'haiku' for the standalone form, separating it from its collaborative origins. In modern English, 'haiku' is the common term, while 'hokku' is used for historical or academic precision.
In its classical Japanese form, yes, the hokku uses a 5-7-5 'on' (sound unit) pattern. However, when writing in English, poets often adapt this pattern rather than strictly adhering to 5-7-5 English syllables, focusing more on the essence of brevity and imagery.
It is not recommended. Using 'hokku' instead of the widely understood 'haiku' in casual conversation will likely cause confusion or seem affected. Reserve 'hokku' for discussions about the history and technical aspects of Japanese poetry.
The 'Great Four' masters of haiku—Matsuo Bashō, Yosa Buson, Kobayashi Issa, and Masaoka Shiki—are renowned for their work. However, Bashō, Buson, and Issa wrote in the hokku tradition before the term 'haiku' was standardized.
The opening stanza of a traditional Japanese collaborative linked-verse poem (renga), which became the independent form now known as haiku.
Hokku is usually formal, literary, academic in register.
Hokku: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɒkuː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɑːkuː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HOKKU starts with HOK- like 'hook'—it's the opening 'hook' stanza of a longer poem that hooked people into writing haiku.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE SEED OF A POEM (the hokku as the seed from which longer poems grew, and which later grew into its own form).
Practice
Quiz
In its original context, a hokku was: