柱 (Pillar) - Meaning and history | Japanese Kanji
GokuGoku
3 min reading time
柱
Kun readings 🇯🇵
On readings 🇨🇳
The kanji 柱 means pillar, support, pole.
柱 indicates a pillar both on a physical level (construction) but also on a moral level (mentor).
In this post we learn in detail the meaning of 柱, its origin, and how it is used through real example sentences.
Origin of the kanji 柱
The origin of the kanji 柱 in its meaning of pillar can be deduced from the 2 kanji from which 柱 derives:
木: kanji and radical meaning
tree主: kanji meaning
boss,master,chief
In a sense then 柱 derives its meaning from mast, the support center, the pillar.
What does kanji mean 柱
The kanji 柱 indicates a support or pillar both in the physical sense (an object that supports a structure or construction) but also in the figurative sense, a pillar intended as a reference person.
In general the kanji 柱 in combination with other kanji adds a sense of support or indicates various particular shapes and structures.
氷柱 - Stalactite
The word 氷柱, which contains the kanji 柱, indicates the icicles. This term uses a non-standard reading for both kanji 水 (water) and kanji 柱.
頭上から、巨大な氷柱が落ちてくる。
Huge icicles are falling from above our heads.
Kanji readings 柱
Let's now see the various On and Kun readings that the kanji 柱 assumes.
Kun readings of the kanji 柱 🇯🇵
はしら
The reading はしら for the kanji 柱 is generally the most common. This reading is used both for kanji alone, 柱 support or pillar, and in combination with other kanji.
This reading also becomes ばしら for phonetic reasons when the kanji 柱 follows another particular kanji.
Some words that use the kanji 柱 reading はしら are:
火柱:
pillar of fire炎柱:
column of flames御柱:
Onbashira festival
On readings of the kanji 柱 🇨🇳
ちゅう
The ちゅう reading is used when the kanji 柱 is used in conjunction with other kanji.
Some words that use the kanji 柱 reading ちゅう are:
支柱:
support,fulcrum水柱:
column of water鉄柱:
iron pole
Examples of the kanji 柱
柱は大理石で作られていた。
The columns were made of marble.
