Japanese word

芯

Pronunciation

Romajishin

Meaning

  • nounlead

Example

この鉛筆は芯が折れやすいです。ko no en pitsu wa shin ga o re ya su i de su

The lead in this pencil breaks easily.

Illustration for 芯 (lead)

More examples

シャープペンシルの芯を新しいものに替えました。shā pu pe n shi ru no shin o atara shi i mo no ni ka e ma shi ta

I replaced the lead in my mechanical pencil with a new one.

Core concept

It refers to what lies at the center or inside something and gives it structure or function.

Common phrases

  • 鉛筆の芯en pitsu no shin

    pencil lead

  • 芯が折れるshin ga o re ru

    the lead breaks

  • 芯を替えるshin o ka e ru

    replace the lead

Definition in Japanese

物の中央または内部にあり、形や機能の基盤となる部分。mono no chū ō ma ta wa nai bu ni a ri katachi ya ki nō no ki ban to na ru bu bun

Word origin

The character 芯 (shin, "core") is a Japanese-made character, or kokuji, combining 艹 (sō, "grass") with 心 (shin, "heart") to represent the inner part of a plant and, later, an object's core.

Usage tips

  • The English word lead in pencil lead names the writing material, but 芯 (shin) highlights that the material is enclosed within the pencil.

Other meanings

  • corenoun
  • wicknoun
  • staplenoun

Word lists with this word