大黒柱|だいこくばしらdaikokubashira[5]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. nouncentral pillar (of a building)
2. nounmainstay (e.g. of an economy); backbone (e.g. of a family); provider; main man

• Synonym支柱しちゅうNeutralNeutral noun for a physical prop or a spiritual pillar, as in 「心の支柱」; its range is broader than 「大黒柱」, covering any kind of support.
• Related幹みきNeutralNeutral noun for a tree trunk or, figuratively, the core of something, as in 「計画の幹」; it points to a structural core rather than a supporting person.
• Related中枢ちゅうすうWrittenFormal written noun for the hub of a system or organization, as in 「中枢神経」; it stresses the functional centre, not the family-pillar image of 「大黒柱」.
• RelatedかなめNeutralNeutral noun for the vital point or linchpin of a group, as in 「チームの要」; it highlights a hub role and can apply to things as well as people.
• Related基幹きかんWrittenWritten/formal noun for the backbone or core, mostly in compounds like 「基幹産業」; it names the foundational core of a system rather than a person.
• Related屋台骨やたいぼねNeutralNeutral noun for a house frame, figuratively the foundation of a family or firm, as in 「会社の屋台骨」; it stresses the base that keeps things standing.
• RelatedバックボーンNeutralLoanword for moral or emotional backbone, or a network backbone; it stresses support in spirit and conviction, unlike the household-provider image of 「大黒柱」.
• Related拠り所よりどころNeutralA neutral noun for what you rely on emotionally or as a basis, as in 「心の拠り所」; it stresses an emotional anchor, not the breadwinner pillar role of 「大黒柱」.
• RelatedキーストーンNeutralLoanword for the keystone that locks an arch together, extended to the key element of something; 「大黒柱」 instead pictures the pillar of a household or organization.
• Related柱石ちゅうせきWrittenWritten/formal noun for a pillar of the state, as in 「国家の柱石」; solemn and literary, it praises a person supporting a nation, not a family breadwinner.
• Related要石かなめいしNeutralNeutral noun for the keystone of an arch; figuratively an indispensable core person or thing, with no special link to supporting a household.
• Related主柱しゅちゅうWrittenWritten/formal noun for the main pillar of a building; rarer than 「大黒柱」 and its figurative use for a central figure is less common.
• Antonym脇役わきやくNeutralNeutral noun for a supporting or minor role in a play or film; it is the opposite of 「大黒柱」, the central figure a family or organization leans on.

Use 「大黒柱」 for the person who anchors a household or organization, as in 「一家の大黒柱」. For the underlying base of a family or firm pick 「屋台骨」, for the key person 「要」, and for emotional reliance 「拠り所」 or 「支柱」. 「脇役」 is the opposite: a supporting role, not the centre.

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

1. 家屋かおくの中央ちゅうおうに建たてる柱はしらで、最初さいしょに建たてられる。
2. 家屋かおくで土間どまと床ゆかとの境さかいに建たてられる太ふとい柱はしら。
3. 一家いっかや組織そしきの中心ちゅうしんとなり、それを支ささえる者もの。