Meaning

Primary

To Support

Word Type

transitive verb, ichidan verb

Explanation

This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means support so the verb version is to support.

Reading

ささえる
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun'yomi reading. You didn't learn that reading with this kanji, so here's a mnemonic to help you:

You need to support someone. In order to support them, you grab two saws. One saw and another saw. It's a saw saw (ささ) combination good enough to do all the supporting you need - and maybe cut some supports too.

Context

Pattern of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • 生活を支える

    to support one's livelihood

    体を支える

    to support someone's body

    社会を支える

    to support society

Context Sentences

スタッフは、これからも社長を支える考えだ。

The staff's thought is to continue supporting the president.

父は母や私を支えるために毎日仕事へ行った。

My father went to work every day to support my mother and me.

この石に、これ以上大きな木を支える力はありません。

This rock does not have the power to support a tree any bigger than this.

Kanji Composition