軸(じく)

じく

noun

axis; core; pivot; scroll

abstract

1. axis; shaft; axle

A rod or line around which something rotates, or a central line used as a reference in geometry or graphs.

グラフのX軸(じく)を見(み)てください。

Please look at the X-axis of the graph.

車輪(しゃりん)の軸(じく)がずれている。

The wheel's axle is misaligned.

この地図(ちず)は東西(とうざい)を軸(じく)にして描(えが)かれている。

This map is drawn with the east-west direction as its axis.

2. core; central focus; backbone

The central element or guiding principle around which other things are organized.

環境(かんきょう)問題(もんだい)を軸(じく)に議論(ぎろん)した。

We discussed the issue with environmental concerns as the central focus.

彼女(かのじょ)がチームの軸(じく)になっている。

She is the backbone of the team.

自分(じぶん)の中(なか)にしっかりとした軸(じく)を持(も)つことが大切(たいせつ)だ。

It is important to have a firm core within yourself.

3. hanging scroll

A mounted calligraphy or painting scroll, short for 掛け軸(かけじく).

床(とこ)の間(ま)に軸(じく)を掛(か)ける。

To hang a scroll in the tokonoma alcove.

季節(きせつ)に合(あ)わせて軸(じく)を替(か)えている。

I change the hanging scroll to match the season.

祖父(そふ)が書(か)いた書道(しょどう)の軸(じく)が家宝(かほう)として大切(たいせつ)に保管(ほかん)されている。

A calligraphy scroll written by my grandfather is carefully kept as a family heirloom.

A versatile word used across mechanical, abstract, and traditional arts contexts.

Common collocations

X軸(じく)・Y軸(じく) (X-axis, Y-axis)
軸(じく)がぶれる (to lose one's focus/direction)
軸(じく)を持(も)つ (to have a core/backbone)
掛(か)け軸(じく) (hanging scroll)

Sense 2 is especially common in self-help and business language, where having a 軸(じく) means having clear principles. Not to be confused with 字句(じく) (wording, phrasing), which is a homophone.

Related Words

Related: グラフ (graph)

general

Added 2026.2.28 19:56 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:29

14000/14304_jiku