Japanese word

桟橋

Pronunciation

Romajisanbashi

Meaning

  • nounpier

Example

港の桟橋で船を待ちます。minato no san bashi de fune o ma chi ma su

I wait for a boat at the pier.

Illustration for 桟橋 (pier)

More examples

観光客は桟橋から小さな船に乗ります。kan kō kyaku wa san bashi ka ra chii sa na fune ni no ri ma su

The tourists board a small boat from the pier.

Core concept

Refers to a constructed walkway over water where people or goods can reach a boat from the shore.

Common phrases

  • 桟橋に立つsan bashi ni ta tsu

    stand on the pier

  • 桟橋を渡るsan bashi o wata ru

    cross the pier

Similar words

船着き場funatsukiba: A place where small boats stop for passengers to board or leave.
埠頭futō: A structure extending from the shore where ships berth and goods are loaded or unloaded.
岸壁ganpeki: A vertical waterfront structure where ships berth and goods are loaded or unloaded.
突堤tottei: A structure projecting into the water, often built to protect a harbor or channel.

Definition in Japanese

岸から水面に張り出し、船を着けて人や荷物を岸との間で移動させるための構造物。kishi ka ra sui men ni ha ri da shi fune o tsu ke te hito ya ni motsu o kishi to no aida de i dō sa se ru ta me no kō zō butsu

Word origin

桟橋 (sanbashi) is formed from 桟 (san, "plank") and 橋 (hashi, "bridge"); 橋 is pronounced bashi in this compound because of rendaku.

Usage tips

  • Pier, jetty, and wharf overlap in meaning, but jetty often refers to a structure that protects a harbor or channel, while wharf often serves loading and unloading.

Other meanings

  • jettynoun
  • wharfnoun

Word lists with this word