Japanese word

碑

Pronunciation

Romajiishibumi

Meaning

  • nounstele

Example

寺の前に碑があります。tera no mae ni ishibumi ga a ri ma su

There is a stele in front of the temple.

Illustration for 碑 (stele)

More examples

地域の功労者をたたえる碑が、駅前の広場に建てられています。chi iki no kō rō sha o ta ta e ru ishibumi ga eki mae no hiro ba ni ta te ra re te i ma su

A stele honoring local contributors has been erected in the plaza in front of the station.

Core concept

It is a lasting public record carved into stone to honor or remember something significant.

Common phrases

  • 碑を建てるishibumi o ta te ru

    erect a stele

  • 碑に名を刻むishibumi ni na o kiza mu

    engrave a name on a stele

Similar words

石碑sekihi: A stone monument bearing an inscription that honors or commemorates a person or event.
記念碑kinenhi: A monument built to honor or remember a person, event, or achievement.

Definition in Japanese

出来事や人物の功績を後世に残すため、文字を石に刻んで建てたもの。de ki goto ya jin butsu no kō seki o kō sei ni noko su ta me moji o ishi ni kiza n de ta te ta mo no

Word origin

The reading いしぶみ (ishibumi) is formed from 石 (ishi, "stone") and 文 (fumi, "writing"), a combination that describes writing carved in stone.

Usage tips

  • English uses both steles and stelae as plural forms of stele, a term often used in archaeology and art history.

Word lists with this word