岩盤(がんばん)

がんばん
noun
bedrock; rock bed; solid base
naturepolitics
1. bedrock; rock bed; rock stratum
A solid layer of rock beneath soil and loose material. The geological foundation.
硬(かた)い岩盤(がんばん)にぶつかった。
We hit hard bedrock.
この地域(ちいき)は岩盤(がんばん)が浅(あさ)いので地震(じしん)に強(つよ)い。
This area is resistant to earthquakes because the bedrock is shallow.
岩盤浴(がんばんよく)に行(い)ってきた。
I went to a hot stone bath.
2. solid base; bedrock (figurative); core; stronghold
Used figuratively for a firm, unshakeable foundation of support, often in political or business contexts.
岩盤(がんばん)支持層(しじそう)は崩(くず)れていない。
The bedrock support base hasn't crumbled.
岩盤規制(がんばんきせい)の改革(かいかく)は難(むずか)しい。
Reforming deeply entrenched regulations is difficult.
与党(よとう)の岩盤(がんばん)支持層(しじそう)が揺(ゆ)らぎ始(はじ)めた。
The ruling party's core support base has started to waver.

Compound of 岩(がん) (rock) and 盤(ばん) (plate/base). The literal geological meaning extends naturally into figurative use, especially in Japanese political discourse where 岩盤(がんばん)支持層(しじそう) (bedrock supporters) and 岩盤規制(がんばんきせい) (rock-solid regulations that resist reform) are common phrases.

Common collocations

  • 岩盤浴(がんばんよく): hot stone bath — a spa treatment where one lies on heated rock
  • 岩盤(がんばん)支持層(しじそう): core support base; bedrock supporters
  • 岩盤規制(がんばんきせい): rock-solid regulations; deeply entrenched regulations
  • 岩盤(がんばん)を掘(ほ)る: to dig into bedrock

Similar words

  • 地盤(じばん): ground; foundation — refers to the ground or foundation (geological or political territory), less about hardness
  • 基盤(きばん): base; foundation — abstract foundation (of a system, economy, etc.)
  • 土台(どだい): foundation; base — the literal or figurative base on which something is built

Related Words

Compare: 地盤(じばん) (ground)
Compare: 基盤(きばん) (base)
Compare: 土台(どだい) (foundation)
general
Added 2026.4.6 0:13 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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