壁(かべ)

かべ
noun
wall
building
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.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS (literal):

COMMON COLLOCATIONS (figurative):

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 2026.10.9 4:34
01000/01290_kabe