Japanese word

石垣

Pronunciation

Romajiishigaki

Meaning

  • nounstone wall

Example

城の石垣はとても高いです。shiro no ishi gaki wa to te mo taka i de su

The castle's stone wall is very tall.

Illustration for 石垣 (stone wall)

More examples

地震に備えて、専門家が古い石垣を補強しています。ji shin ni sona e te sen mon ka ga furu i ishi gaki o ho kyō shi te i ma su

To prepare for earthquakes, experts are reinforcing the old stone wall.

Core concept

Refers to a wall or embankment whose structure and appearance come from carefully arranged stones.

Common phrases

  • 石垣を築くishi gaki o kizu ku

    build a stone wall

  • 石垣を積むishi gaki o tsu mu

    build a stone wall

  • 石垣を修復するishi gaki o shū fuku su ru

    restore a stone wall

  • 石垣が崩れるishi gaki ga kuzu re ru

    a stone wall collapses

Similar words

石積みishitsumi: A wall or embankment built by arranging stones without mortar.
石壁ishikabe: A vertical wall constructed from stones, often as part of a building.
石塁sekirui: A defensive rampart made by piling stones into a strong barrier.

Definition in Japanese

石を積み上げて築いた垣や壁。ishi o tsu mi a ge te kizu i ta kaki ya kabe

Word origin

石 (ishi, "stone") is combined with 垣 (kaki, "fence or wall") in the compound 石垣 (ishigaki), a wall made of stones.

Usage tips

  • English descriptions of Japanese castles sometimes retain 石垣 (ishigaki) as an architectural term when the distinctive construction of their stone walls matters.

Word lists with this word