Japanese word

塁

Pronunciation

Romajirui

Meaning

  • nounbase

Example

走者は次の塁に進みます。sō sha wa tsugi no rui ni susu mi ma su

The runner advances to the next base.

Illustration for 塁 (base)

More examples

二人の走者が塁に出ています。futa ri no sō sha ga rui ni de te i ma su

Two runners are on base.

Core concept

塁 (rui) denotes a firmly established position used either to defend an area or to guide progress toward a goal.

Common phrases

  • 塁に出るrui ni de ru

    reach base

  • 塁を盗むrui o nusu mu

    steal a base

  • 塁を埋めるrui o u me ru

    load the bases

Similar words

ベースbēsu: A baseball base referred to by a common sports term borrowed from English.

Definition in Japanese

野球で、走者が得点するために踏む四つの地点の一つ。ya kyū de sō sha ga toku ten su ru ta me ni fu mu yon tsu no chi ten no hito tsu

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese word 塁 (rui) uses the on'yomi reading of a character meaning an earthen fortification; Japanese baseball uses it for a fixed station for a runner.

Usage tips

  • The four 塁 (rui) on a baseball field form a diamond, so the word links a runner's progress with movement around the infield.

Other meanings

  • fortnoun

Word lists with this word