ネジ

ネ

ジ

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

noun

screw

usually written using kana alone

A threaded fastener; also used metaphorically for something that tightens or adjusts.

このネジを時計とけい回まわりに回まわしてください。
Please turn this screw clockwise.
ネジが緩ゆるんでいたので、ドライバーで締しめた。
The screw was loose, so I tightened it with a screwdriver.

noun

key (of a clock, watch, etc.); spring

usually written using kana alone

Refers to the winding key or the mainspring of a mechanical clock or watch; often in compound words like ネジ巻き (winding).

古ふるい時計とけいのネジを巻まくのを忘わすれないで。
Don't forget to wind the old clock.
このオルゴールはネジを巻まくと音おとが鳴なる。
This music box plays when you wind it up.

See all 157 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉のネジを締しめるto tighten a screw (in something)
椅い子すのネジを締しめた。
I tightened the screws on the chair.
〈物もの〉のネジを巻まくto wind up (a clock, watch, or wind-up toy)
毎まい晩ばん、時計とけいのネジを巻まいている。
I wind the clock every night.
〈物もの〉のネジを緩ゆるめるto loosen a screw (in something)
テーブルのネジを緩ゆるめてから板いたを外はずした。
I loosened the screws on the table before removing the board.
ネジが外はずれるfor a screw to come loose/fall out
自じ転てん車しゃのネジが外はずれてしまった。
A screw came off my bicycle.

Kanji

螺small, edible, helical fresh-water mollusk
子child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM
捩screw, twist, wrench
捻twirl, twist, play with
旋rotation, go around

Related words· 6

ボルトN1sense 1
ネジ is a screw that can be driven directly into material, while ボルト is a bolt that is used together with a nut (ナット).
スクリュー
ねじ is the everyday native word for a screw, while スクリュー is the loanword usually reserved for technical or mechanical contexts.
螺ら旋せんN1
ねじ is the everyday word for a screw or bolt as a physical fastener, while 螺旋 emphasizes the spiral or helical shape of the thread itself, often in technical contexts.
ビス
ネジ is the general term for threaded fasteners including screws and bolts, while ビス specifically refers to small screws driven with a screwdriver.

Show 2 more

ボルトN1
ねじ is the general word for screw and covers self-tapping types, while ボルト specifically refers to a threaded fastener meant to be used with a nut.
螺ら子し
ネジ is the common modern katakana spelling for 'screw', whereas 螺子 (read らし) is a rare, old-fashioned kanji form rarely seen in everyday writing.

Don't confuse with

ねじ回まわしN1sense 1
ネジ is the screw itself, whereas ねじ回し is the tool (screwdriver) used to turn it.
螺ら子し
螺子 written with the reading らし is an unusual, rarely-used reading of this kanji, while the same kanji 螺子 is normally read ねじ, the standard word for 'screw'.
釘くぎN2
ネジ (screw) twists into place, while 釘 is a straight metal fastener that is hammered in.

Counted with

本ほんN5
long cylindrical objects like screws are commonly counted with 本; 個 may also be heard for pieces in some contexts.

Word family

プラスねじ
Phillips-head screw; cross-head screw
ボールねじ
ball screw
ねじポンプ
screw pump
螺子ねじプロペラ
screw propeller

Written forms

ネジUsage67%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is the most common written form; the word is usually written in kana.
ねじUsage29%
gikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun
Hiragana spelling, also common.
螺子ねじUsage4%
rarely-used kanji formgikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun
Rare kanji form; 螺 means 'spiral' and 子 is a nominalizer, but this spelling is seldom used.
捩子ねじUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji formgikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun
Rare kanji form; 捩 also means 'twist' or 'wrench'.
捻子ねじUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji formgikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun
Rare kanji form; 捻 means 'twist', reflecting the twisting motion of a screw.
螺旋ねじ
rarely-used kanji formgikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun
Rare kanji form; 螺旋 normally reads らせん (spiral), but can be used as ateji for ねじ.

Etymology

The word ねじ likely derives from the verb 捩る (ねじる, 'to twist'), referring to the twisting motion of a screw. The katakana spelling ネジ is standard in modern usage.