Definition
A structure built over a river, road, or gap so people can cross from one side to the other.
Example
川に大きな橋が架かっている。
Show translation
A large bridge spans the river.
Etymology
From Old Japanese *pasi, related to the verb 渡る (wataru, "to cross over"). The kanji 橋 combines 木 (tree/wood) and 喬 (tall, raised), reflecting the original wooden bridges raised over water.
Cultural note
Bridges hold deep symbolic weight in Japanese culture — they appear in countless place names (e.g., 日本橋 Nihonbashi, 錦帯橋 Kintaikyo) and in literature as liminal spaces connecting this world and the next. The famous Nihonbashi bridge in Tokyo was historically considered the zero-point from which all road distances in Japan were measured. Watch out for the homophone 箸 (はし, chopsticks) and 端 (はし, edge/tip) — context and pitch accent distinguish them in speech.