A unit of ownership in a company (stock/share), traded on markets and often carrying dividends or voting rights.
彼はIT企業の株をたくさん持っている。
He owns a lot of shares in an IT company.
株価が急落して、投資家は損失を出した。
Stock prices plunged and investors suffered losses.
新規上場の会社の株を買ってみたい。
I want to try buying shares of a newly listed company.
株を長期で保有するか、短期売買するかで戦略が変わる。
Your strategy changes depending on whether you hold stocks long-term or trade them short-term.
A tree stump—the part of the trunk left after a tree is cut down.
庭の古い木は枯れてしまい、株だけが残っている。
The old tree in the garden died and only the stump remains.
子どもたちがその株の周りでかくれんぼをした。
The children played hide-and-seek around that stump.
(A) clump of roots or a plant with its roots/stem attached — a unit used in gardening (e.g., when dividing plants).
この多年草は株分けで増やすことができる。
This perennial can be propagated by dividing the clumps.
花壇に並んだ株は元気に育っている。
The plants lined up in the flower bed are growing well.
A strain (of bacteria, virus, etc.) — a biological lineage or variant used in scientific classification.
そのワクチンは数種類のインフルエンザ株に対して効果がある。
That vaccine is effective against several strains of influenza.
研究室で新しい耐性株を分離した。
They isolated a new resistant strain in the laboratory.
An abbreviation used in company names to indicate 'kabushiki kaisha' (joint-stock company); written as (株) or ㈱ in names.
書類には（株）山田商事と記載されていた。
The document listed the company as (株) Yamada Shoji.
名刺を見ると会社名の先頭に株の記号が付いていた。
Looking at the business card, there was the 'kabu' symbol at the start of the company name.
Goodwill or privilege of a business — the intangible commercial advantage or privileges a company or merchant has.
長年の実績が会社の株（＝営業上の信用）を高めている。
Years of track record have increased the company's goodwill (its business standing).
地域に根ざしたサービスは店の株になる。
Services rooted in the local community become an asset (goodwill) for the shop.
Reputation, standing, or popularity (as in expressions like 'one's stock rises/falls').
会議で的確な意見を言って、彼の株が上がった。
By giving a precise opinion at the meeting, his reputation went up.
小さなミスで店の株が下がってしまった。
A small mistake damaged the shop's standing.
One's forte or specialty (often seen as お株); commonly used in phrases like 'to take someone's specialty'.
彼女は接客の腕が良く、店の『お株』を守っている。
She is good at customer service and protects the shop's specialty.
後輩が先に発表して、先輩のお株を奪ってしまった。
The junior presented first and stole the senior's thunder.