Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Words Kanji Guides About

はしご Japanese meaning | Kotomora

はしご

は

し

ご

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

noun

usually written using kana alone

The ordinary physical meaning: a ladder used for climbing up or down. In modern writing, はしご is more common than the kanji spelling.

はしごを壁かべに立たてかけた。
I leaned the ladder against the wall.
屋や根ねに上のぼるには長ながい

はしご

が

必ひつ

要よう

だ

。

You need a long ladder to get up onto the roof.

2

noun

stairs; ladder-like steps

usually written using kana alone

A less central use referring to stairs or steps, especially when they are steep or ladder-like; in ordinary modern Japanese, 階段 is the normal word for stairs.

古ふるい小こ屋やには、二に階かいへ上あがる急きゅうなはしごがあった。
The old hut had steep ladder-like stairs leading up to the second floor.

3

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb, intransitive verb

go to several places in succession; barhop

usually written using kana alone

Used as はしごする or Nをはしごする for visiting several places one after another. It is especially common for bars and restaurants, but can also be used for shops, hospitals, and other destinations.

昨さく夜やは友とも達だちと居い酒ざか屋やを三さん軒けんはしごした。
Last night I went barhopping with a friend, visiting three izakaya.
セールの日ひは、朝あさから店みせをはしごするつもりだ。
On the day of the sale, I plan to go from store to store starting in the morning.

Written forms

はしごUsage38%
All senses are usually written in kana; this is the safest everyday spelling.
梯子はしごUsage43%
Standard kanji spelling, especially visible in dictionaries and formal or descriptive writing, though kana is often preferred in ordinary writing.
ハシゴUsage16%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling; often useful for emphasis, casual tone, or search, especially in the figurative はしごする sense.
梯はしごUsage3%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form marked as rarely used; mainly useful for recognition.
階はし子ごUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form marked as rarely used; mainly useful for recognition.

Kanji

梯ladder, stairs, insatiable drinking
子child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM
階storey, stair, counter for storeys of a building

Similar words

階かい段だん
The normal modern word for stairs; はしご primarily means a ladder, and its stairs sense is limited or ladder-like.
脚きゃ立たつ
A stepladder or folding ladder that stands on its own; はしご is the broader word for a ladder.
飲のみ歩あるく
Means to go around drinking; はしごする emphasizes visiting several places in succession and is not limited to drinking.

Etymology

The historical derivation of the native reading はしご is uncertain here. 梯子 is the conventional kanji spelling for the ladder meaning, but It is usually written in kana.