駒 means “game piece, pony”

こま · koma

Also: horse, colt

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): こま
On'yomi (Chinese reading): ク

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 15 strokes

The story

A horse (馬) and 句: once a young horse, now every piece on a shogi board. In shogi, unlike chess, a captured piece becomes your 持ち駒, ready to drop back into play on your side, and 駒を進める is to advance to the next round.

Used in 駒 (koma, game piece), 持ち駒 (mochigoma, captured piece in hand), and 手駒 (tegoma, pieces in hand/people at one's disposal)

駒 means “game piece, pony”

The story

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