軸
axis, pivot, stem, stalk, counter for book scrolls
Readings
On'yomi
- ジク
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
軸 centers on a central line around which something turns or is organized: an axis, a pivot, or the stem of a plant. The counter for book scrolls extends this idea to the cylindrical core of a rolled scroll.
Most common words using 軸
20 of 108- 軸じくN1
axis; shaft; axle
- 主軸しゅじく
main spindle; main shaft
- 枢軸すうじく
axle; pivot
- 基軸きじく
basis; foundation; core; criterion; standard
- 同軸どうじく
same axle
- 機軸きじく
axis; axle; plan; contrivance
- 掛け軸かけじく
hanging scroll
- 軸受けじくうけ
bearing; shaft bearing; axle bearing; plummer block; pillow block
- 地軸ちじく
earth's axis
- 車軸しゃじく
axle
- 中軸ちゅうじく
axis; pivot; central figure; key man
- 一軸いちじく
uniaxial
- 座標軸ざひょうじく
coordinate axis
- 軸足じくあし
pivot foot
- 新機軸しんきじく
innovation; new departure; milestone; breakthrough
- 基軸通貨きじくつうか
key currency
- 縦軸たてじく
vertical axis; vertical line
- 横軸よこじく
abscissa; horizontal axis
- ころ軸受ころじくうけ
roller bearing
- びまん性軸索損傷びまんせいじくさくそんしょう
diffuse axonal injury; DAI
Study
Etymology
軸 combines 車 (vehicle, wheel) with 由, which likely contributes the sound and may suggest a central point. The character originally referred to the axle of a cart, the central rod around which the wheel turns.
Meaning mnemonic
A cart (車) has a central rod (由) that acts as the axis. Picture the axle running through the wheel, the pivot point for the whole vehicle.
Reading mnemonic
For ジク, imagine a jig (ジ) that holds the axle in place while you work on the cart: jig -> ジク, and the axle is the central pivot.