Translation guide
A banister is the handrail and its supporting posts along a staircase. In Japanese, the most common word is 手すり (tesuri), which refers to the handrail itself. The full structure including balusters can be described with 手すり or more specific architectural terms.
The rail you hold onto when going up or down stairs.
The most common and general word for a handrail or banister. It can refer to the rail itself or the whole assembly.
階段の手すりにつかまってください。
Please hold onto the banister.
手すりが壊れているので気をつけて。
The banister is broken, so be careful.
Refers to a railing or balustrade, often used for bridges, balconies, or staircases. Slightly more formal or architectural than 手すり.
この階段の欄干は美しい彫刻が施されている。
The banister of this staircase has beautiful carvings.
Kanji variant of 手すり, meaning handrail. Less common in everyday writing but seen in formal or technical contexts.
手摺りを設置する際は安全基準を満たす必要がある。
When installing a banister, it must meet safety standards.
The upright posts that support the handrail.
Specifically refers to the balusters, the vertical posts of a banister. Used in architecture and DIY contexts.
手すり子の間隔が広すぎると危険です。
If the gap between the balusters is too wide, it's dangerous.
Literally 'pillars of the railing', a descriptive phrase for balusters.
欄干の柱が一本折れている。
One of the banister posts is broken.
手すり is the everyday word for any handrail, including on stairs, in bathrooms, or along corridors. 欄干 is more often used for railings on bridges, balconies, or decorative staircases, and has a slightly formal or architectural tone.