幹みき

み

き

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

noun

tree trunk; bole

The main woody stem of a tree, as opposed to branches, leaves, or roots.

子こどもが太ふとい幹みきに手てを回まわした。
The child put his arms around the thick tree trunk.
この木きは幹みきがまっすぐ伸のびている。
This tree has a trunk that grows straight up.

noun

backbone; foundation; central support

A figurative extension from a tree trunk: the main supporting part or backbone of an organization, activity, plan, or system. More metaphorical than 基盤 or 根幹.

この事じ業ぎょうは会かい社しゃの幹みきとなっている。
This business has become the backbone of the company.
教きょう育いくは国くにづくりの幹みきだと彼かれは考かんがえている。
He believes education is the foundation of nation-building.

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Usage patterns

幹みきが太ふといthe (tree) trunk is thick
この木きは幹みきがとても太ふとい。
This tree has a very thick trunk.
〈事こと〉の幹みきとなるto become the backbone/core of something
この事じ業ぎょうは会かい社しゃの幹みきとなる存そん在ざいだ。
This business is the backbone of the company.
幹みきを切きるto cut down the trunk (of a tree)
台たい風ふうで倒たおれた木きの幹みきを切きった。
I cut the trunk of the tree that had fallen in the typhoon.

Kanji

幹tree trunk, main part, talent

Related words

根こん幹かん sense 2
根幹 is a more formal, abstract word for the fundamental basis of something, while 幹 keeps a vivid tree-trunk image even when used figuratively.
基き盤ばんN2sense 2
基盤 means a base or foundation in a purely abstract or practical sense, whereas 幹 carries the metaphor of a tree's main trunk supporting everything else.

Opposites

枝えだN4sense 1
枝 is a branch growing off the tree, the direct opposite of 幹, the central trunk it grows from.

Don't confuse with

幹かん部ぶN1
幹部 (using the same kanji 幹) means the executives or senior staff of an organization, not the physical or figurative trunk that 幹 refers to.
茎くきN2
茎 refers to the stem of smaller plants, flowers, and vegetables, while 幹 refers specifically to the trunk of a tree.

Counted with

本ほんN5sense 1
A tree trunk (幹) is counted with 本, the counter for long, cylindrical objects.

Word family

幹みき糸いと
leader line

Etymology

みき is a native Japanese word for a tree trunk, written with the kanji 幹, which is conventionally associated with a trunk or main supporting part. The exact historical derivation of the native reading is uncertain.