haiku Definition
a Japanese poem of seventeen syllables, in three lines of five, seven, and five, traditionally evoking images of the natural world..
Using haiku: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "haiku" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The poet wrote a haiku about the cherry blossoms.
Example
She won the haiku contest with her beautiful poem.
Example
He enjoys writing haikus as a hobby.
haiku Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with haiku
senryu
a three-line unrhymed Japanese poem structurally similar to haiku but primarily concerned with human nature and human experiences
Example
His senryu about the absurdity of modern life was very popular.
a Japanese poem consisting of five lines, the first and third of which have five syllables and the others seven, making 31 syllables in all and giving a complete picture of an event or mood
Example
She wrote a beautiful tanka about the autumn leaves.
a form of Japanese collaborative linked verse poetry that typically involves three or more participants alternating composing the stanzas
Example
They spent the evening composing a renga together.
Origins of haiku
from Japanese 'haiku', meaning 'verse'
Summary: haiku in Brief
A 'haiku' [ˈhaɪkuː] is a traditional Japanese poem consisting of three lines with a total of seventeen syllables, following a 5-7-5 pattern. It often evokes images of the natural world, as in 'The poet wrote a haiku about the cherry blossoms.' Other related forms include 'senryu,' which focuses on human nature, and 'tanka,' which gives a complete picture of an event or mood.
