端はし

noun

end; edge; tip; margin

Only with reading はし / はじ

The physical end or side of something, such as a road, table, page, stick, or line. はし is the standard reading; はじ is a much less common alternate reading.

• 道みちの端はしを歩あるいてください。

  Please walk along the edge of the road.

• ノートの端はしに小ちいさくメモを書かいた。

  I wrote a small note in the margin of the notebook.

noun

beginning; start; from the first

Only with reading はな

Mostly used in the adverbial expression 端から, read はなから, meaning 'from the outset' or 'right from the start.' It often implies that someone had already decided or assumed something.

• 彼かれは端はなからこちらの説せつ明めいを聞きく気きがなかった。

  He had no intention of listening to our explanation from the start.

noun

scrap; odd bit; fragment; least bit

Only with reading はし

Refers to a small leftover piece or fragment, often in compounds such as 切れ端. The 'least bit' nuance is an extension of this idea of a tiny part rather than a general word for 'minimum.'

• 紙かみの切きれ端はしに電でん話わ番ばん号ごうを書かいた。

  I wrote the phone number on a scrap of paper.

• 会かい話わの端はしを耳みみにしただけで、詳くわしくは知しらない。

  I only caught a fragment of the conversation, so I do not know the details.