錨
ikari[ika̠ɾʲi]
The English word "anchor" is 錨 (ikari) in Japanese.
The term refers to the physical tool used to moor a vessel to the sea bottom.
Meaning: tool to moor a vessel into sea bottom (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 錨 refers to the physical anchor, please note that a homophone written with different kanji (怒り) means "anger".
How do you pronounce it?
ikari
Did you know?
- While English uses the word 'anchor' for both the tool and the person who provides stability, in Japanese, using 錨 to describe a person's character would feel unnatural and overly literal.
- The term 錨 appears in the Harima Fudoki, a collection of local records from 715 CE, showing the word has been used in written Japanese for over 1,300 years.
- In Japanese culture, the image of the 錨 is often used in tattoos and imagery to symbolize stability and a 'safe harbor' in life's storms, similar to Western symbolism but often blended with naval traditions.
Examples in context
- 船は錨を下ろした。The ship dropped anchor.This sentence is useful for showing how to use 錨 in the context of a ship dropping its anchor.Tatoeba #141157 by tommy_san, translation #273415 by CK
- 大きな錨が海に沈んだ。Ookina ikari ga umi ni shizunda.A large anchor sank into the sea.
- 新しい錨を注文する必要がある。Atarashii ikari o chuumon suru hitsuyou ga aru.It is necessary to order a new anchor.
Example conversation
A man and a woman are looking at a boat in a harbor.
- 健太 Kentaあの船の錨はとても大きいね。Ano fune no ikari wa totemo ookii ne.That ship's anchor is very large, isn't it?
- 美咲 Misaki健太さん、あれでしっかり固定されているのよ。Kenta-san, are de shikkari kotei sarete iru no yo.Kenta, it is being held firmly by that.
- 健太 Kenta美咲の言う通り、とても頑丈そうだ。Misaki no iu toori, totemo ganjou sou da.Just as you say, Misaki, it looks very sturdy.
- 美咲 Misaki嵐が来ても大丈夫そうね。Arashi ga kite mo daijoubu sou ne.It looks like it will be fine even if a storm comes.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “anchor” translations and entries 錨, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 錨, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
