金槌(かなづち)

かなづち
noun
hammer
1. hammer
A tool with a heavy metal head used for hitting nails.
金槌(かなづち)を取(と)ってきて。
Go get the hammer.
金槌(かなづち)で釘(くぎ)を入(い)れる。
To hammer in a nail.
金槌(かなづち)で釘(くぎ)を打(う)つのは難(むずか)しい。
It's hard to hit nails with a hammer.
金槌(かなづち)の頭(あたま)は重(おも)いので、気(き)をつけて使(つか)ってね。
The hammer head is heavy, so be careful when using it.
棚(たな)を作(つく)るために、金槌(かなづち)と釘(くぎ)を買(か)ってきた。
I bought a hammer and nails to build a shelf.
2. person who can't swim
Colloquial term for someone who sinks like a hammer in water.
私(わたし)は金槌(かなづち)だ。
I can't swim.
Literally "I am a hammer" — meaning one sinks like a hammer in water.
金槌(かなづち)だから泳(およ)げない。
I can't swim at all.
彼(かれ)は金槌(かなづち)だから、海(うみ)に入(はい)らない。
He can't swim, so he won't go in the ocean.
子(こ)どもの時(とき)は金槌(かなづち)だったけど、今(いま)は泳(およ)げるようになった。
I couldn't swim as a child, but now I can.
金槌(かなづち)の人(ひと)は、まず水(みず)に顔(かお)をつける練習(れんしゅう)から始(はじ)めるといい。
People who can't swim should start by practicing putting their face in the water.

金槌(かなづち) has two meanings: a hammer (tool) and a person who can't swim.

SENSE 1 - HAMMER:

  • 金槌(かなづち)で釘(くぎ)を打(う)つ: to hit a nail with a hammer
  • 金槌(かなづち)を取(と)ってきて: go get the hammer

SENSE 2 - NON-SWIMMER (COLLOQUIAL):

  • 彼(かれ)は金槌(かなづち)だ: He can't swim
  • 金槌(かなづち)だからプールに入(はい)れない: I can't swim so I can't go in the pool

WHY THIS MEANING?
A metal hammer sinks immediately in water - just like someone who can't swim!

WORD FORMATION:
金(かな) (metal) + 槌(づち) (hammer)

ALTERNATIVE WORDS:

  • ハンマー: hammer (loanword)
  • 木槌(きづち): wooden mallet
core
Added 2026.1.16 16:42 · Revised 2026.3.9 9:07
05000/05476_kanazuchi