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Kotomora

緒

thong, beginning, inception, end, cord, strap, mental or emotional state

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 1,000Strokes14

Readings

On'yomi

  • ショ
  • チョ

Kun'yomi

  • お
  • いとぐち

Nanori

  • ほ

Meaning

緒 centers on a thread-like beginning or connection: the start of something, a cord or strap that ties things together, and by extension a mental or emotional state that binds or initiates. The 'end' sense is a natural counterpart to the beginning, like the two ends of a thread.

Most common words using 緒

20 of 53
  • 一緒いっしょ
    N5

    (doing) together

  • 内緒ないしょ
    N3

    secrecy; confidentiality; privacy; secret

  • 緒お

    cord; strap; thong

  • 情緒じょうちょ
    N2

    emotion; feeling

  • 由緒ゆいしょ
    N1

    history; pedigree; lineage

  • 端緒たんしょ

    start; beginning; first step; clue

  • 一緒くたいっしょくた

    jumble; hodgepodge; potpourri; heterogenous mixture

  • へその緒へそのお

    umbilical cord

  • 緒戦しょせん

    beginning of hostilities; beginning of competition

  • 鼻緒はなお

    sandal strap; geta strap

  • 一緒にいっしょに
    N5

    together (with)

  • 情緒障害じょうちょしょうがい

    (suffering) an emotional disturbance

  • ご一緒ごいっしょ

    (doing) together

  • 一緒くたにいっしょくたに

    jumbling together; lumping together; mixing up

  • 一緒にするいっしょにする

    to do together

  • 一緒になるいっしょになる

    to come together; to join; to merge; to meet (up with)

  • 下町情緒したまちじょうちょ

    the friendly atmosphere of the traditional commercial and working-class neighborhoods

  • 下緒さげお

    cord for attaching a sword scabbard tightly to the obi; sword strap; sword knot

  • 光緒こうしょ

    Guangxu era (of emperor Dezong of Qing; 1875-1908)

  • 兜の緒を締めるかぶとのおをしめる

    to brace oneself (e.g. for battle); to pull oneself together; to focus one's mind; to tighten the strings of one's helmet

Explore all words using 緒 →

Study

Etymology

緒 combines 糸 (thread) with 者, which likely contributes the sound. The thread component suggests the idea of a beginning or end of a thread, and by extension the start of something or a connecting cord.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 糸 is thread, and the right side 者 looks like a person sitting. Imagine a person holding the end of a thread, ready to begin weaving or tying a strap. That thread is the start of something, a cord, or a state of mind.

Reading mnemonic

For ショ, picture a short thread that marks the beginning of a project: short -> ショ, and the thread is the start.