What does 橋 mean in Japanese?
橋 means “bridge” in Japanese. You will often see it in practical words such as 橋 (bridge), 石橋 (stone bridge), and 歩道橋 (pedestrian bridge).
For learners, the key is to study 橋 through real vocabulary. The examples below show how the kanji works in words, sentences, and related kanji.
Reading
On’yomi: キョウ (kyou)
Kun’yomi: はし (hashi)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 橋 |
|---|
How to Understand This Kanji
橋 is not limited to one English translation. In 橋 (はし), it means bridge; in 石橋 (いしばし), it points to stone bridge; and in 歩道橋 (ほどうきょう), it is used for pedestrian bridge. Reading these compounds side by side helps you understand the range of the kanji.
Common Words
- 橋（はし / hashi） — bridge
- 石橋（いしばし / ishibashi） — stone bridge
- 歩道橋（ほどうきょう / hodōkyō） — pedestrian bridge
- 鉄橋（てっきょう / tekkyō） — railway bridge
- 橋本（はしもと / hashimoto） — Hashimoto; near the bridge
- 大橋（おおはし / ōhashi） — large bridge
Example Sentences
-
川に大きな橋があります。
かわにおおきなはしがあります。 / Kawa ni ōkina hashi ga arimasu.
There is a large bridge over the river.
-
石橋を渡りました。
いしばしをわたりました。 / Ishibashi o watarimashita.
I crossed a stone bridge.
-
歩道橋から道を見ました。
ほどうきょうからみちをみました。 / Hodōkyō kara michi o mimashita.
I looked at the road from the pedestrian bridge.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
Start with 橋 (はし / hashi) because it keeps the core meaning of 橋 clear. Then add 石橋 and 歩道橋 to see how the reading and meaning shift in real vocabulary. Do not memorize 橋 as a single English word; connect it to actual words and example sentences.
Summary
橋 means “bridge” and appears in useful Japanese words such as 橋, 石橋, and 歩道橋.