also: ぜんまい
noun
A mechanical spring, such as a coil or leaf spring. The reading ぜんまい specifically refers to a spiral spring or mainspring.
このおもちゃはばねで動いている。
This toy works by a spring.
時計のぜんまいが切れてしまった。
The clock's mainspring has wound down.
noun
springiness; bounce; resilience
Only with reading ばね / バネ
Refers to the spring-like quality in one's legs or body, often used in sports or physical descriptions. Only used with the reading ばね.
彼は足にばねがあるから高く跳べる。
He can jump high because he has springs in his legs.
この靴はばねが効いていて走りやすい。
These shoes have good bounce and are easy to run in.
noun
springboard; impetus; catalyst
Only with reading ばね / バネ
Figurative use: something that provides momentum or a starting point for further action. Only used with the reading ばね.
失敗をばねにして成功した。
He used his failure as a springboard to success.
その経験が彼の人生のばねになった。
That experience became the impetus for his life.
Rare kanji form; the reading ばね is a jukujikun.
Rare kanji form.
Rare kanji form.
Reading ぜんまい is used for the mainspring of a clock or a spiral spring; included as a search variant.
スプリング is a loanword from English 'spring' and is often used for specific types of springs, especially in technical or mechanical contexts, while ばね is the native Japanese word used more broadly.
The word ばね is of native Japanese origin. The kanji forms 発条, 弾機, and 撥条 are jukujikun (special kanji readings) assigned to match the meaning. The reading ぜんまい is also jukujikun and originally referred to a type of spiral spring.