1.
walking stick, cane, staff
A stick or rod used as a support while walking. Includes mobility aids for the elderly or injured, hiking poles, and ceremonial or decorative staffs.
祖父は杖をついて歩く。
My grandfather walks with a cane.
登山には杖があると楽だ。
Having a walking stick makes mountain climbing easier.
足を骨折して、しばらく杖なしでは歩けなかった。
After breaking my leg, I couldn't walk without a cane for a while.
USAGE:
The most common verb pairing is 杖をつく (to use a cane, literally "to poke with a cane"). In figurative usage, 杖 can refer to something or someone one relies on for support.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 杖をつく: to walk with a cane
- 杖に頼る: to rely on a cane
- 松葉杖: crutch(es)
KANJI NOTE:
The kanji 杖 uses the 木 radical (tree/wood), reflecting the traditional material.