竿竹(さおだけ)

さおだけ
noun
bamboo pole; laundry pole
daily-lifetools
1. bamboo pole; long bamboo stick used for hanging laundry or as a tool
A long pole made of bamboo, traditionally used for hanging laundry to dry outdoors. Also used for reaching high places, fishing, and other purposes.
竿竹(さおだけ)に洗濯物(せんたくもの)を干(ほ)す。
To hang laundry on a bamboo pole.
古(ふる)くなった竿竹(さおだけ)を新(あたら)しいものに交換(こうかん)した。
I replaced the old bamboo pole with a new one.
住宅街(じゅうたくがい)を「竿竹(さおだけ)ー、竿竹(さおだけ)ー」と売(う)り歩(ある)くトラックの声(こえ)が聞(き)こえてきた。
I could hear the voice from a truck going through the residential area selling bamboo poles, calling out 'Saodake, saodake.'

A compound of 竿(さお) (pole, rod) + 竹(たけ) (bamboo). In Japan, outdoor laundry drying using 竿竹(さおだけ) or metal poles is still the norm in many households. Modern laundry poles are often made of stainless steel or aluminum rather than actual bamboo, but the word 竿竹(さおだけ) persists.

Cultural note

The 竿竹(さおだけ)屋(や) (bamboo pole seller) is a distinctive feature of Japanese neighborhoods — trucks slowly drive through residential areas broadcasting recorded calls of 「竿竹(さおだけ)ー」 to sell replacement laundry poles. The book 『なぜ、あの竿竹(さおだけ)屋(や)はつぶれないのか？』 became a bestselling business book exploring why this seemingly unprofitable business model survives.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 物干(ものほ)し竿(ざお): clothes-drying pole — the general term for a laundry pole, regardless of material
  • 竹竿(たけざお): bamboo pole — same characters reversed; more general, not specifically for laundry
  • 竿(さお): pole; rod — the base word, also used for fishing rods

Related Words

Compare: 物干(ものほ)し竿(ざお) (clothes-drying pole)
general
Added 2026.5.7 1:11 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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