Explore 柱 in buildings and in figurative uses. Learn each reading with a complete word.

The idea

柱 has 9 strokes, with 木 on the left and 主 on the right. Follow the linked diagram. 柱 is はしら alone; compounds such as 大黒柱 and 水柱 are read だいこくばしら and みずばしら.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
柱はしらThere is a thick pillar in this room.
水柱みずばしらA column of water rose from the fountain.
大黒柱だいこくばしらMy mother is the main support of our family.

Examples

  • この部屋へやには太ふとい柱はしらがあります。There is a thick pillar in this room.
  • 柱はしらが屋根やねを支ささえています。The pillar supports the roof.
  • 柱はしらにもたれて友達ともだちを待まちました。I leaned against the pillar and waited for my friend.
  • 噴水ふんすいから水柱みずばしらが上あがりました。A column of water rose from the fountain.
  • 母ははは我わが家やの大黒柱だいこくばしらです。My mother is the main support of our family.
  • 信頼しんらいはこのチームの柱はしらです。Trust is a pillar of this team.

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

Watch out

The reading はしら can become ばしら in a compound. 大黒柱 can mean a central support for a family, not only a physical post.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 柱 in hiragana.

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    はしら

    柱 is はしら: the sentence describes a thick pillar.

  2. Write the reading of 水柱 in hiragana.

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    みずばしら

    水柱 is みずばしら: it is a column of water, and はしら becomes ばしら.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 大黒＿（だいこくばしら）［柱／住］.

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    柱

    柱 completes 大黒柱（だいこくばしら）, a central support of the family.

Use it today

Write 柱 following the diagram, then cover the readings and use 柱 or 水柱 in a sentence.