組
association, braid, plait, construct, assemble, unite, cooperate, grapple
Readings
On'yomi
- ソ
Kun'yomi
- く.む
- くみ
- -ぐみ
Meaning
組 centers on bringing separate parts together into a structured whole: braiding threads, assembling a group, or cooperating as a team. The grapple sense extends this to physically joining in a contest.
Most common words using 組
24 of 487- 番組ばんぐみN5
program (e.g. TV); programme
- 組くみN3
class (of students)
- 組織そしきN3
organization; organisation; formation
- 組むくむN3
to cross (legs or arms); to link (arms)
- 組み合わせくみあわせN2
combination; assortment; set
- 仕組みしくみN1
structure; construction; arrangement; contrivance; mechanism; workings
- 組合くみあいN3
association; union; guild
- 取り組みとりくみN2
effort; initiative; dealing with; grappling with; wrestling with
- 組み立てくみたて
construction; framework; erection; assembly; organization; organisation
- 取り組むとりくむN2
to grapple with; to wrestle with; to engage in a bout; to be matched against
- 枠組みわくぐみ
frame (physical structure); framework
- 組み合わせるくみあわせるN2
to put together; to combine; to join together; to join up
- 組成そせい
composition; constitution
- 組長くみちょう
boss (esp. yakuza); foreman
- 労組ろうそ
labor union; labour union; trade union
- 組み替えくみかえ
rearrangement (of classes); recomposition; recombination; reclassification
- 組み立てるくみたてるN3
to assemble; to put together; to set up; to construct; to build; to compose (a story, poem, etc.)
- 組曲くみきょく
suite
- 組み込むくみこむN2
to insert; to include; to incorporate; to install; to embed
- 組閣そかくN1
formation of a cabinet
- 改組かいそ
reorganization; reorganisation; reshuffle
- 信用組合しんようくみあい
credit association
- 労働組合ろうどうくみあいN2
labor union; labour union; trade union
- 乗組員のりくみいんN1
crew (of a ship, airplane, etc.); crew member
Study
Etymology
組 combines 糸 (thread) with 且, which likely contributes the sound and may suggest a structural base. The character originally referred to braiding or weaving threads together.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side is thread 糸, and the right side 且 looks like a shelf or framework. Picture threads being braided together on a loom to form a strong, united structure.
Reading mnemonic
For ソ, imagine sewing a braid: sew -> ソ, and the threads come together as you sew them into a united whole.