Skip to content
Kotomora

注

pour, irrigate, shed (tears), flow into, concentrate on, notes, comment, annotate

JLPTN4StatusJōyō · grade 3FrequencyTop 500Strokes8

Readings

On'yomi

  • チュウ

Kun'yomi

  • そそ.ぐ
  • さ.す
  • つ.ぐ

Meaning

注 centers on directing a flow: pouring liquid, shedding tears, or channeling attention. The note/comment sense extends from the idea of directing written remarks onto a text.

Most common words using 注

21 of 229
  • 注意ちゅうい
    N4

    attention; notice; heed

  • 注目ちゅうもく
    N3

    notice; attention; observation

  • 注文ちゅうもん
    N4

    order (for an item)

  • 注ぐそそぐ
    N3

    to pour (into)

  • 注ぐつぐ
    N3

    to pour (into a vessel); to fill (a cup, bowl, etc.) with; to dish out (food or drink)

  • 注ちゅう
    N3

    annotation; explanatory note; comment

  • 注射ちゅうしゃ
    N4

    injection; jab; shot

  • 発注はっちゅう

    ordering (materials); placing an order; order

  • 受注じゅちゅう

    accepting an order; receiving an order; orders received; closed won

  • 注入ちゅうにゅう

    pouring; injection

  • 注釈ちゅうしゃく

    notes; comment; remark; annotation

  • 注意報ちゅういほう
    N1

    advisory

  • 注ぎ込むそそぎこむ

    to pour in (liquids)

  • 傾注けいちゅう

    devoting (oneself) to; concentrating (one's efforts) on

  • 注意深いちゅういぶかい
    N1

    attentive; cautious; careful; watchful

  • 不注意ふちゅうい
    N1

    carelessness; inattention; thoughtlessness; negligence

  • 要注意ようちゅうい
    N1

    need for caution; need for care; requiring special attention

  • 予約注文よやくちゅうもん

    pre-order; advance order

  • 取扱注意とりあつかいちゅうい

    handling warning

  • 大注目だいちゅうもく

    (paying) a great deal of attention (to)

  • 注すさす

    to pour; to add (liquid); to serve (drinks)

Explore all words using 注 →

Study

Etymology

注 combines 氵 (water) with 主, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of a main flow. The note sense developed later as a metaphorical extension of directing words.

Meaning mnemonic

Water 氵 flows toward the main 主 point: imagine pouring water into a central vessel, directing it exactly where it needs to go. That same focus applies to annotating a text with notes.

Reading mnemonic

For チュウ, picture a chef pouring sauce while saying 'chew' to remind you to taste it: chew -> チュウ, and the sauce flows from the ladle.