オベリスク
oberisuku[o̞be̞ɾʲisɨ̥kɯ̟]
The English word obelisk is translated into Japanese as オベリスク (oberisuku). Wiktionary also lists 方尖柱 (hōsenchū).
Meaning: tall, square, tapered, stone monolith topped with a pyramidal point (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| オベリスク | oberisuku | [o̞be̞ɾʲisɨ̥kɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 方尖柱 | hōsenchū |
An obelisk is a tall, square, tapered, stone monolith topped with a pyramidal point.
Which one should you use?
The katakana form オベリスク is the most common way to refer to an obelisk in modern Japanese, especially in a general or archaeological context. The kanji form 方尖柱 is a more technical or academic term used in specific architectural or historical contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
oberisuku
Did you know?
- In Japanese pop culture, the word オベリスク is widely recognized as the name of a powerful monster card in the 'Yu-Gi-Oh!' franchise.
- While オベリスク is a phonetic loanword, the kanji form 方尖柱 is shared with Chinese, illustrating how East Asian languages often use the same characters for technical architecture.
- The kanji 方尖柱 describes the shape literally: 方 means 'square', 尖 means 'pointed' and 柱 means 'pillar'.
Examples in context
- 古いお寺の庭園には、素晴らしい碑塔が建ち並んでいます。Wonderful obelisks line the garden of the old temple.
- 公園に古いオベリスクがあります。Kōen ni furui oberisu-ku ga arimasu.There is an old obelisk in the park.
- そのオベリスクはとても高いです。Sono oberisu-ku wa totemo takai desu.That obelisk is very tall.
- 写真に写っているのはオベリスクですか？Shashin ni utsutte iru no wa oberisu-ku desu ka?Is that an obelisk in the photo?
Example conversation
Kenta and Himari are looking at a guidebook in a museum.
- 健太 Kentaこのオベリスクはどこにありますか？Kono oberisu-ku wa doko ni arimasu ka?Where is this obelisk located?
- 陽葵 Himariエジプトにありますよ。Ejiputo ni arimasu yo.It's in Egypt.
- 健太 Kentaとても立派な形ですね。Totemo rippa na katachi desu ne.It has a very magnificent shape.
- 陽葵 Himari本当にきれいな形です。Hontō ni kirei na katachi desu.It really is a beautiful shape.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “obelisk” translations and entries オベリスク, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
