noun
ema
Ema (noun) means a small wooden plaque on which a wish or prayer is written and hung at a Shinto shrine in Japan. Example: “Visitors hung their ema on a rack near the shrine entrance.”
noun
1
A small wooden plaque on which a wish or prayer is written and hung at a Shinto shrine in Japan.
"Visitors hung their ema on a rack near the shrine entrance."
How to use ema
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA wish tablet used in Japanese shrine tradition, usually bought on-site and hung up after the wish is written on it.
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Word forms
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Visitors hung their _____ on a rack near the shrine entrance.
Etymology
From Japanese ema, literally "picture-horse" — plaques originally often depicted horses, once offered live to shrines.
Rhymes for ema
See all rhymes for ema →Frequently asked questions
What does “ema” mean?
The word “ema” means a small wooden plaque on which a wish or prayer is written and hung at a Shinto shrine in Japan. In plain terms, a wish tablet used in Japanese shrine tradition, usually bought on-site and hung up after the wish is written on it.
How do you use “ema” in a sentence?
Here is “ema” used in a sentence: “Visitors hung their ema on a rack near the shrine entrance.”
What part of speech is “ema”?
“Ema” is a noun.
Where does the word “ema” come from?
The word “ema” comes from Japanese. From Japanese ema, literally "picture-horse" — plaques originally often depicted horses, once offered live to shrines.
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