noun (common) (futsuumeishi)nouns which may take the genitive case particle 'no'word usually written using kana alonecommon reed (Phragmites australis)
人間は一本のアシに過ぎず、その本性はきわめて弱いが、人間は考える葦である。
Man is but a reed, the weakest in nature, but he is a thinking reed.