Meaning

Primary

To Fold Something

Alternative

To Break Something

Word Type

transitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means fold or break, so the vocab verb version is to fold something or to break something

Reading

おる
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun'yomi reading. You didn't learn that reading with this kanji, so here's a mnemonic to help you: You fold your obi () really carefully and put it away with the rest of your kimono.

Context

Patterns of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • 二つに折る

    to fold in two

    半分に折る

    to fold in half

    三角に折る

    to fold into a triangle

Context Sentences

ぎょうざの皮を半分に折って折り目を作って下さい。

Please fold the gyoza skin over and make pleats.

きっ茶店で折り紙を折っていたら、一人の女の子が近よってきた。

When I was folding origami at the cafe a girl approached me.

その紙を折った時に、指を切ってしまったんだ。

When I was folding the paper I got a paper cut.

Kanji Composition