礎いしずえ

い

し

ず

え

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

Refers to the physical stone at the base of a building or, metaphorically, the fundamental basis of something. Often used in formal or literary contexts.

この石いしは建たて物ものの礎いしずえとして使つかわれた。
This stone was used as the foundation stone of the building.
教きょう育いくは国くにの発はっ展てんの礎いしずえである。
Education is the cornerstone of a nation's development.

See all 13 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉の礎いしずえとなるto become the foundation/cornerstone of something
彼かれの研けん究きゅうは現げん代だい医い学がくの礎いしずえとなった。
His research became the foundation of modern medicine.
〈事こと〉の礎いしずえを成なすto form the basis/foundation of something
この条じょう約やくは両りょう国こくの友ゆう好こう関かん係けいの礎いしずえを成なしている。
This treaty forms the foundation of friendly relations between the two countries.

Expressions

礎いしずえを築きずくlay the foundation (for)

Kanji

礎cornerstone, foundation stone

Related words

基き礎そN3
基礎 is the everyday word for a foundation or basis, while 礎 is more formal or literary, often used metaphorically for an enduring cornerstone.
土ど台だいN1
土台 refers plainly to the physical base of a structure (or its metaphorical equivalent), whereas 礎 has a more solemn, literary tone.
基き盤ばんN2
基盤 emphasizes an abstract supporting platform or infrastructure, while 礎 evokes the image of a single foundational stone.

Counted with

基き
A native speaker would more naturally count actual installed foundation stones/cornerstones with 基 than with the generic counter.

Written forms

礎いしずえUsage98%
Standard kanji spelling; the character 礎 itself means foundation or cornerstone.
いしずえUsage2%

Etymology

The kanji 礎 combines 石 (stone) and 楚 (a phonetic component suggesting 'beginning' or 'foundation'). The reading いしずえ is a native Japanese word (kun'yomi) meaning 'foundation stone'.