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Kotomora

序

preface, beginning, order, precedence, occasion, chance, incidentally

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · grade 5FrequencyTop 2,000Strokes7

Readings

On'yomi

  • ジョ

Kun'yomi

  • つい.で
  • ついで

Nanori

  • つぐ

Meaning

序 centers on the idea of a structured beginning or arrangement: a preface that sets the order of things, a sequence, or an occasion that arises as part of that order. The sense of 'chance' or 'incidentally' extends from something that happens in due course.

Most common words using 序

20 of 108
  • 序でついで
    N2

    opportunity; occasion; chance

  • 序盤じょばん

    opening (in a game of go, chess, etc.)

  • 秩序ちつじょ
    N1

    order; discipline; regularity; system; method

  • 順序じゅんじょ
    N2

    order; sequence

  • 序じょ

    order; ordering

  • 序列じょれつ

    rank; ranking order; hierarchy

  • 序章じょしょう

    preface; foreword; introduction; introductory chapter

  • 無秩序むちつじょ

    disorder; chaos; confusion

  • 序曲じょきょく

    overture; prelude

  • 公序良俗こうじょりょうぞく

    public order and morals; social standards; public policy

  • 序文じょぶん

    preface; foreword; introduction

  • 年功序列ねんこうじょれつ

    seniority by length of service

  • 序の口じょのくち

    the beginning (as in "this is only the beginning")

  • 花序かじょ

    inflorescence

  • 序説じょせつ

    introduction

  • 序論じょろん

    introduction; preface

  • 序奏じょそう

    introduction

  • 序幕じょまく

    curtain-raiser; prologue

  • 序二段じょにだん

    jonidan (second lowest) division

  • 公序こうじょ

    public order; public policy

Explore all words using 序 →

Study

Etymology

序 combines 广 (building) with 予, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of arranging or ordering. The character originally referred to the east-west walls of a building, which gave structure to the space, later extending to order and preface.

Meaning mnemonic

Inside a building (广), a person is arranging (予) the order of things, like setting up a preface before a main event.

Reading mnemonic

For ジョ, imagine writing a preface for a book about Joe: Joe -> ジョ, and the preface sets the order for the whole story.