Explore 橋 in everyday descriptions of bridges. Learn its reading as part of each complete word.

The idea

橋 has 16 strokes; follow the linked stroke-order diagram. The standalone noun 橋 is はし, while 歩道橋 (pedestrian bridge) is ほどうきょう. The on-reading キョウ appears in the compound.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
橋はしThere is a bridge over the river.
歩道橋ほどうきょうA pedestrian bridge has been built in front of the station.

Examples

  • 川かわに橋はしがかかっています。There is a bridge over the river.
  • 橋はしを歩あるいて渡わたります。We cross the bridge on foot.
  • この橋はしは古ふるいですが、丈夫じょうぶです。This bridge is old but sturdy.
  • 駅えきの前まえに歩道橋ほどうきょうができました。A pedestrian bridge has been built in front of the station.
  • 歩道橋ほどうきょうを渡わたってください。Please cross the pedestrian bridge.
  • その橋はしは二ふたつの町まちをつないでいます。The bridge connects the two towns.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

Do not confuse 橋 (bridge) with 箸 (chopsticks): both can be read はし, but their meanings and written forms differ. Context tells you which word is intended.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 橋 in hiragana.

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    はし

    橋 is はし: 川に橋がかかっています describes a bridge over a river.

  2. Write the reading of 歩道橋 in hiragana.

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    ほどうきょう

    歩道橋 is ほどうきょう; 橋 is read きょう in this compound for a pedestrian bridge.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 歩道＿（ほどうきょう）［橋／箸］.

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    橋

    橋 completes 歩道橋, a pedestrian bridge. 箸 means chopsticks and does not fit.

Use it today

Write 橋 using the diagram. Cover the table, read 橋 and 歩道橋 aloud, then describe a bridge you know.