noun, counter
Financial sense: a unit of ownership in a company. Also used as a counter for stocks.
彼はその会社の株を100株持っている。
He holds 100 shares of that company's stock.
株価が急に上がった。
The stock price suddenly rose.
noun
Original meaning: the remaining part of a tree after cutting. Rare standalone; mostly in forestry or historical contexts.
切り株が庭に残っている。
A stump remains in the garden.
noun, counter
clump of roots; plant with roots
Used for a plant together with its root clump, often when transplanting. Also a counter for such plants.
花の株を植え替える。
I replant the flower with its root clump.
バラを3株買った。
I bought three rose plants.
noun, counter
Biology: a genetic variant or subtype of a microorganism.
このワクチンは新しいウイルス株に対応している。
This vaccine works against the new virus strain.
noun
stock company; corporation; KK
Abbreviation of 株式会社, used in company names as (株) or ㈱. Not used as a standalone word for 'company'.
See also: 株式会社
トヨタ自動車(株)は愛知県に本社がある。
Toyota Motor Corporation has its headquarters in Aichi Prefecture.
noun, noun, used as a suffix
goodwill; privilege; reputation
Intangible asset or social standing built up over time. Often used in phrases like 株を上げる (gain reputation) or 株を下げる (lose face).
彼の親切な行動で株が上がった。
His kind act boosted his reputation.
あの失言で大臣の株が下がった。
That gaffe lowered the minister's standing.
noun
Usually as お株: a person's specialty or strong point, often in a slightly teasing way.
See also: お株
料理は彼女のお株だ。
Cooking is her forte.
Full term for a joint-stock company; 株 is its abbreviation used in company names.
Polite prefixed form specifically meaning one's forte or specialty.
Compound meaning tree stump, more common than standalone 株 for the stump sense.
Originally referred to a tree stump or root clump. The financial sense developed from the idea of a 'root' of ownership. The abbreviation for 株式会社 is a modern usage.