Refers to small branches, twigs, or kindling used for fuel or fencing. Often appears in compounds like 柴垣 (brushwood fence) or 柴犬 (Shiba Inu, named for the brushwood where the breed hunted).
庭で柴を集めて焚き火をした。
We gathered brushwood in the garden and made a bonfire.
The old man went to the mountain to gather brushwood.
柴を束ねて薪の代わりに使う。
We bundle brushwood and use it instead of firewood.
冬になると庭で柴を燃やして暖を取った。
In winter, they burned brushwood in the yard to keep warm.
They fenced around the field with brushwood.
Trade counter for standardized bundles (firewood, dried goods).
For bundles that fit in the grip — spinach, firewood, rice sheaves.
Shiba Inu; Shiba; brushwood dog
willow-leafed magnolia; anise magnolia
brushwood fence
heartleaf hornbeam
firewood gathering; brushwood cutting
Standard kanji spelling; high frequency in news sources.
The kanji 柴 combines 木 (tree) and 此 (this/here), originally referring to small trees or brushwood. The reading しば is native Japanese and has been used since Old Japanese for small branches and kindling.