歯車
Meanings
1
gear; cogwheel
A toothed wheel that transmits motion or power in a machine.
The clock's gears broke and it stopped working.
The gears mesh and the machine starts moving.
2
cog in a machine; small part of a system
Metaphorical use for a person or element that is a small, functional part of a larger organization or system.
In a large corporation, one sometimes feels like just a cog in the machine.
I take pride in working as a cog in the organization.
Usage patterns
- 歯車を回すto turn a gear
I tried turning the machine's gear by hand.
- 歯車が動くfor the gears (of a machine) to turn
When I flipped the switch, the gears started turning.
- 〈物〉の歯車になるto become a small cog in (an organization, system, etc.)
He felt doubts about becoming just a cog in a large organization.