![[By character count] Words that start with “bu.” Hints for shiritori and word games.](https://media.ragnet.co.jp/img/1200__png__https://www.studiorag.com/files/2025/05/3b318b290e890b9e87163e5f37e92920.webp)
[By character count] Words that start with “bu.” Hints for shiritori and word games.
In addition to shiritori, many people enjoy word games like crosswords and word searches with a specified number of letters because they’re easy to play and highly engaging.
That said, there are times when you just can’t think of a word that starts with a certain sound, right?
So, in this article, we’ll introduce lots of words that start with “bu” (ぶ).
We’ll present them by character count, so it should be helpful when there are rules that specify the number of characters.
Use this as a handy reference for hints in shiritori and other word games.
2 characters (1–10)
samurai
Samurai, an indispensable part of discussing Japanese history, is also a word that starts with “bu.” There are several proverbs that begin with samurai as well, so you can adapt it for proverb-only games.
part (of the body); anatomical region; cut (meat/fish)
Bui is also an easy-to-use word.
It’s recommended when the character count is limited or when you want to respond with “i” in shiritori.
pig
When it comes to animals that start with “bu,” wouldn’t “buta” (pig) be the first that comes to mind? There are many derivative terms like “butaniku” (pork) and “butabara” (pork belly), so it’s useful to use them flexibly depending on the context.
3 characters (1–10)
stationery (writing supplies)
It’s a stationery item that might stump your opponent in shiritori.
Or you could call it office supplies, too.
Either way, it ends with a voiced consonant, so it seems hard to respond to.
tinplate
Tinplate that evokes nostalgic toys.
Using this word might spark lively conversations about memories, and it could also be an opportunity to introduce tinplate to those who don’t know it.
clubroom (club room)
Many of you probably used one during your school days—a clubroom.
Let’s try using it while reminiscing about those nostalgic memories.
4 letters (1–10)
clumsy; awkward; clumsy person
Bikiyou (clumsiness) is also a word that starts with “bu.” In fact, it’s sometimes written as “無器用.” Try using it in writing-based games.