Kanji: 桁 (Girder/Pillar)
The kanji 桁 primarily means "girder," "beam," or "pillar" in architecture, referring to a horizontal support structure. By extension, it is also used in mathematics to mean "digit" (as in the place in a number).
Key Reading:
Kun-yomi (Japanese reading): けた (keta)
Common Words & Usage:
桁 (keta) - Noun. 1. A girder, crossbeam. 2. A digit (e.g., units, tens).
桁違い (keta chigai) - Na-adjective. On a different level, in a different league (literally, "different digit").
桁数 (ketasū) - Noun. The number of digits.
Example Sentence:
Japanese: 彼の新しい車の価格は桁違いに高い。
Romaji: Kare no atarashii kuruma no kakaku wa keta chigai ni takai.
English: The price of his new car is on a completely different level (an order of magnitude higher).
Learning the correct stroke order for kanji like 桁 is essential for balanced, legible Japanese handwriting and is a fundamental part of mastering kanji writing.