柱 means “pillar”

はしら · hashira

Also: post, cylinder, support

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

はしら

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

チュウ

Taught in grade 3 · 9 strokes

The story

Wood (木) standing as the master (主) of the structure: 柱 is what holds the house upright. In Japanese shrine architecture, the 大黒柱 (daikokubashira, central pillar) is sacred: it represents the person who supports the entire family.

Used in 大黒柱 (daikokubashira, breadwinner/main pillar), 電柱 (denchuu, utility pole)

Where it comes from

Phonetic-Semantic (形声文字): A wooden post standing as the master of the structure.

Combines wood (木) with master (主). The pillar is the "master" of the structure: the wooden beam that everything else depends on. In Japanese homes, the 大黒柱 (daikokubashira, main pillar) is both structural and spiritual.

To remember it: Wood (木) that is the master (主): the pillar that holds everything up!

Words with 柱

• 大黒柱 (だいこくばしら, daikokubashira): main pillar / breadwinner

Example sentences

• 柱が家を支えています。 The pillars support the house.
• 父は家族の大黒柱です。 My father is the pillar of the family.

More from Family & Home

• 家 house
• 親 parent
• 弟 younger brother
• 妹 younger sister
• 夫 husband
• 妻 wife
• 孫 grandchild
• 婚 marriage
• 育 raise
• 戸 door
• 寝 sleep
• 窓 window

Learn 柱 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.