1.
axle; wheel shaft
The rod or spindle that passes through the center of a wheel, allowing it to rotate. Used for vehicles, machinery, and other wheeled equipment.
車軸が折れた。
The axle broke.
車軸に油を差してから動かしてください。
Please oil the axle before operating it.
古い荷車の車軸がきしむ音が、静かな田舎道に響いていた。
The creaking sound of an old cart's axle echoed along the quiet country road.
A compound of 車 (wheel, vehicle) and 軸 (axis, shaft). Also appears in the vivid weather expression 車軸を流す, meaning a torrential downpour so heavy it could wash away an axle — an evocative way to describe extremely heavy rain.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 車軸が折れる: the axle breaks
- 車軸に油を差す: to oil the axle
- 車軸を流す: torrential rain (idiomatic)
- 前車軸: front axle
- 後車軸: rear axle
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 軸: axis; shaft — the general term for any central rod or axis
- 車輪: wheel — the circular part that rotates around the axle
- 枢軸: pivot; axis — used figuratively (e.g., 枢軸国, Axis powers)