壁(かべ)

かべ

noun

wall

1. wall

A vertical structure that encloses or divides an area.

壁(かべ)に絵(え)を掛(か)ける。

To hang a picture on the wall.

壁(かべ)を白(しろ)く塗(ぬ)った。

I painted the wall white.

隣(となり)の部屋(へや)との壁(かべ)が薄(うす)くて、声(こえ)が聞(き)こえる。

The wall between our room and the next is thin, so I can hear voices.

2. barrier, obstacle

Figuratively, something that blocks progress.

言葉(ことば)の壁(かべ)がある。

There is a language barrier.

Figurative usage

壁(かべ)にぶつかっても、あきらめない。

Even when I hit a wall, I won't give up.

年齢(ねんれい)の壁(かべ)を乗(の)り越(こ)えて、新(あたら)しいことに挑戦(ちょうせん)したい。

I want to overcome the age barrier and take on new challenges.

壁(かべ) refers to a wall or partition in a building, and is widely used figuratively for barriers and obstacles.

Literal collocations

壁(かべ)に掛(か)ける: to hang on a wall
壁(かべ)を塗(ぬ)る: to paint a wall
壁(かべ)にぶつかる: to bump into a wall
壁(かべ)が薄(うす)い: the walls are thin

Figurative collocations

言葉(ことば)の壁(かべ): language barrier
心(こころ)の壁(かべ): emotional barrier
年齢(ねんれい)の壁(かべ): age barrier
壁(かべ)を乗(の)り越(こ)える: to overcome a barrier
壁(かべ)にぶつかる: to hit a wall (face an obstacle)

The figurative sense is extremely common in everyday Japanese, often paired with 越(こ)える or 破(やぶ)る to express overcoming challenges.

Related Words

Related: 塀(へい) (wall, fence)

Related: 床(ゆか) (floor)

Compare: ブロック塀(べい) (concrete block wall)

general

Added 2026.1.8 21:05 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02

01000/01290_kabe