How to say "keystone" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 要石かなめいしnounThe literal term for the keystone of an arch: the wedge-shaped stone at the top that holds the other stones in place. Use it for the actual stone rather than a figurative linchpin.
- nounThe loanword form of 'keystone'. It denotes the wedge-shaped stone locking an arch together; as the English term itself it is transparent, though it remains a less common choice.
- くさび石くさびいしnounA descriptive name, literally 'wedge stone': it pictures the keystone by its shape, the wedge set at the top of an arch. It suits the physical stone rather than figurative uses.
- nounThe common, chiefly figurative word: a vital point or cornerstone, the element everything else depends on. Choose it for abstract 'keystone' senses, not for the physical stone of an arch.
For the literal stone at the top of an arch, choose among 要石, 「キーストーン」, and 「くさび石」; for the figurative sense of an indispensable element, the common word is 「かなめ」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
