橋きょう頭とう堡ほ

きょ

う

と

う

ほ

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

noun

bridgehead; beachhead

Military term for a fortified position on the enemy side of a river or shore, used as a base for further operations. Also used figuratively for a foothold or starting point in a new area.

連れん合ごう軍ぐんは川かわの対たい岸がんに橋きょう頭とう堡ほを築きずいた。

The allied forces established a bridgehead on the opposite bank of the river.

その企き業ぎょうは海かい外がい市し場じょうへの橋きょう頭とう堡ほとして現げん地ち法ほう人じんを設せつ立りつした。

The company set up a local subsidiary as a bridgehead into the overseas market.

Kanji

橋bridge
頭head, counter for large animals
堡fort
保protect, guarantee, keep

Related words

足あし場ば
足場 is a more general term for a foothold or scaffolding, while 橋頭堡 is specifically a military bridgehead or a strategic foothold.
拠きょ点てん
拠点 is a base or stronghold in a broad sense, whereas 橋頭堡 emphasizes an initial entry point gained from an opponent's territory.

Written forms

橋頭堡
- きょうとうほ
  Standard kanji spelling for 'bridgehead'.
- きょうとうほう
橋頭保
- きょうとうほ
  Variant spelling using 保 instead of 堡; less common.
- きょうとうほう
きょうとうほう

Etymology

Compound of 橋頭 (bridgehead, from 橋 'bridge' and 頭 'head') and 堡 (fort). The reading きょうとうほ is the standard on'yomi. The variant きょうとうほう uses the alternative on'yomi ほう for 堡.