つるはし
tsuruhashi
The Japanese word for pickaxe is つるはし (tsuruhashi).
つるはし is a noun used to refer to a heavy iron tool.
Meaning: heavy iron tool (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
tsuruhashi
Did you know?
- The word つるはし is written in hiragana in many contexts, but when written in kanji as 鶴嘴, it literally means 'crane beak' because of the tool's shape.
- In historical Japanese mining, the つるはし was essential for the extraction of gold and silver in the mountains of Sado Island, a site now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage property.
- In Japanese pop culture, the つるはし is the iconic weapon of the 'miner' trope in video games and anime, often symbolizing a character's grit or humble beginnings.
Examples in context
- つるはしを使って、硬い土を掘る。Tsuruhashi o tsukatte, katai tsuchi o horu.Use a pickaxe to dig the hard soil.
- 庭仕事のために新しいつるはしを買った。Niwa shigoto no tame ni atarashii tsuruhashi o katta.I bought a new pickaxe for gardening.
Example conversation
Kenta and Misaki are working in the garden.
- 美咲 Misaki健太さん、つるはしはどこにありますか。Kenta-san, tsuruhashi wa doko ni arimasu ka.Kenta, where is the pickaxe?
- 健太 Kenta物置の中にありますよ。monooki no naka ni arimasu yo.It is inside the storage shed.
- 美咲 Misakiつるはしで石をどかしたいです。tsuruhashi de ishi o dokashitai desu.I want to move the stones with the pickaxe.
- 健太 Kentaじゃあ、僕が持ってきますね。jaa, boku ga motte kimasu ne.Then, I will go get it for you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry つるはし, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
