A threaded fastener; also used metaphorically for something that tightens or adjusts.
Please turn this screw clockwise.
ネジが緩んでいたので、ドライバーで締めた。
The screw was loose, so I tightened it with a screwdriver.
key (of a clock, watch, etc.); spring
Refers to the winding key or the mainspring of a mechanical clock or watch; often in compound words like ネジ巻き (winding).
古い時計のネジを巻くのを忘れないで。
Don't forget to wind the old clock.
このオルゴールはネジを巻くと音が鳴る。
This music box plays when you wind it up.
I tightened the screws on the chair.
I wind the clock every night.
I loosened the screws on the table before removing the board.
A screw came off my bicycle.
ネジ is the general term for threaded fasteners including screws and bolts, while ビス specifically refers to small screws driven with a screwdriver.
ねじ is the general word for screw and covers self-tapping types, while ボルト specifically refers to a threaded fastener meant to be used with a nut.
ネジ is the common modern katakana spelling for 'screw', whereas 螺子 (read らし) is a rare, old-fashioned kanji form rarely seen in everyday writing.
ネジ is the screw itself, whereas ねじ回し is the tool (screwdriver) used to turn it.
螺子 written with the reading らし is an unusual, rarely-used reading of this kanji, while the same kanji 螺子 is normally read ねじ, the standard word for 'screw'.
ネジ (screw) twists into place, while 釘 is a straight metal fastener that is hammered in.
long cylindrical objects like screws are commonly counted with 本; 個 may also be heard for pieces in some contexts.
Phillips-head screw; cross-head screw
ball screw
screw pump
screw propeller
Rare kanji form; 螺 means 'spiral' and 子 is a nominalizer, but this spelling is seldom used.
Rare kanji form; 捩 also means 'twist' or 'wrench'.
Rare kanji form; 捻 means 'twist', reflecting the twisting motion of a screw.
Rare kanji form; 螺旋 normally reads らせん (spiral), but can be used as ateji for ねじ.