かなめ（かなめ）
JLPT N1 · noun
Pitch accent: heiban (flat) — starts low, then stays high with no drop
Meaning: key point/pivot
Example sentences
- 彼はチームのかなめだ。 — He is the linchpin of the team.
- 信頼が関係のかなめだ。 — Trust is the cornerstone of a relationship.
Related words
See it used in real works
- Example sentences from Japanese novels & web fiction (Massif)
- Hear “かなめ” pronounced in real videos (YouGlish)