かなめ・要kaname[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounpivot
2. nounvital point; cornerstone; keystone
3. nounJapanese photinia

• Synonym中枢ちゅうすうWrittenWritten/formal prose; a central hub, as in 「中枢神経」 or 「政治の中枢」; leans toward the core of an organization or system.
• Synonym中核ちゅうかくWrittenWritten/formal prose; the core part, as in 「中核を担う」; leans toward the nucleus of an organization.
• Synonym骨子こっしWrittenWritten/formal prose; the skeletal outline of a bill or plan, as in 「改革案の骨子」.
• Synonym核心かくしんNeutralThe core or crux, as in 「核心に迫る」; leans toward the essence of a problem.
• Synonym要領ようりょうNeutralThe knack or know-how, as in 「要領がいい」; leans toward how skillfully things are handled.
• Synonym要点ようてんNeutralThe main points, as in 「要点をまとめる」; leans toward the key content of a text or talk.
• Synonym眼目がんもくWrittenWritten/formal prose; the gist or main aim, as in 「この法案の眼目」; leans toward the chief purpose.
• Synonym枢軸すうじくWrittenWritten/formal prose; the axis, as in 「枢軸国」; leans toward centers of power or historical usage.
• SynonymエッセンスNeutralLoanword; the essence, as in 「エッセンスを抽出」; leans toward the refined quintessence of something.
• SynonymポイントNeutralLoanword; the point or key, as in 「ポイントを押さえる」; common in colloquial use.
• Synonym核かくNeutralThe core, as in 「チームの核」; also the atomic nucleus and nuclear weapons.
• Synonym心臓部しんぞうぶWrittenWritten/formal prose; the heart of a machine or organization; leans toward the most vital component.
• RelatedバックボーンNeutralLoanword; one's spiritual backbone or background, as in 「文化的バックボーン」.
• Related基幹きかんWrittenWritten/formal prose; the backbone, as in 「基幹産業」 or 「基幹システム」.
• Related柱はしらNeutralA pillar or mainstay, as in 「チームの柱」; leans toward the supporting role.
• Related心臓しんぞうNeutralFiguratively the heart of something, as in 「工場の心臓」; literally the heart organ.
• Related骨髄こつずいWrittenWritten/formal prose; the depths of the heart, as in 「恨み骨髄に徹す」; literally bone marrow.
• Related本質ほんしつNeutralThe true nature of a thing, as in 「問題の本質」; leans toward inherent qualities.
• Related幹みきNeutralA tree trunk, or figuratively the central stem of things; leans toward the foundation or root.
• Related支柱しちゅうNeutralA prop or support, as in 「心の支柱」; leans toward spiritual reliance.
• Related大黒柱だいこくばしらNeutralThe main pillar of a household, as in 「一家の大黒柱」; leans toward the family breadwinner.
• Related屋台骨やたいぼねNeutralThe framework or foundation of an organization, as in 「会社の屋台骨」; leans toward overall support.
• Related拠り所よりどころNeutralA spiritual anchor or grounds for reliance, as in 「心の拠り所」; leans toward what one depends on.

Use 「要」 for the most crucial part or person, as in 「チームの要」 or 「守備の要」. For the key content of a text say 「要点」, for the essence of a problem 「核心」, for the core of an organization 「中枢」, and for the pillar of a family 「大黒柱」. The rest pick out specific angles: written terms like 「骨子」「眼目」「基幹」 suit formal prose, loanwords like 「ポイント」「バックボーン」 fit everyday speech, and 「柱」「支柱」「核」 describe supporting roles.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. (かなめ) 物事ものごとの最もっとも大切たいせつな点てんや部分ぶぶん、また人物じんぶつ。要点ようてん。
2. (かなめ) 扇おうぎの骨ほねを留とめるのに用もちいる釘くぎ。また、扇おうぎのその場所ばしょ。
3. (ぬま, ぬみ)（古いにしえ）要害ようがい。要衝ようしょう。
4. (ぬま, ぬみ)（古いにしえ）大切たいせつなこと。要点ようてん。