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Kotomora

縄

straw rope, cord

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · grade 4FrequencyTop 2,000Strokes15

Readings

On'yomi

  • ジョウ

Kun'yomi

  • なわ
  • ただ.す

Meaning

縄 centers on a twisted or braided length of material used for binding or measuring: a rope or cord, especially one made of straw.

Most common words using 縄

20 of 105
  • 沖縄おきなわ
    N5

    Okinawa (city, prefecture)

  • 縄なわ
    N3

    rope; cord

  • 縄文じょうもん

    straw-rope pattern pressed into earthenware

  • 縄張りなわばり
    N1

    stretching a rope around; roping off; cordoning off; demarcation

  • 一筋縄ひとすじなわ

    (piece of) rope

  • 縄跳びなわとび

    skipping rope; jump rope

  • 火縄銃ひなわじゅう

    matchlock; arquebus

  • 沖縄電力おきなわでんりょく

    Okinawa Electric Power Co., Inc.; OEPC

  • しめ縄しめなわ

    rope used to cordon off consecrated areas or as a talisman against evil

  • 延縄はえなわ

    longline

  • 縄手なわて

    footpath between rice fields

  • 自縄自縛じじょうじばく

    being caught in one's own trap; being hoisted by one's own petard

  • 腰縄こしなわ

    leash; rope tied round prisoner's waists

  • お縄おなわ

    policeman's rope

  • かぎ縄かぎなわ

    ninja rope with grappling hook

  • 一筋縄でいかないひとすじなわでいかない

    not straightforward; not dealt with by ordinary means; very hard to manage

  • 一筋縄ではいかないひとすじなわではいかない

    not straightforward; not dealt with by ordinary means; very hard to manage

  • 先縄文時代せんじょうもんじだい

    pre-Jomon period (i.e. the preceramic period)

  • 差し縄さしなわ

    halter (for restraining a horse, etc.)

  • 延縄漁はえなわりょう

    longline fishing

Explore all words using 縄 →

Study

Etymology

縄 combines 糸 (thread) with a phonetic element that historically relates to binding or twisting. The right side is a simplified form of 黽, which contributed the sound and the idea of something pliable or stretched.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 糸 shows thread or fiber. The right side looks like a twisted bundle with a hook at the bottom. Picture straw fibers being twisted together into a strong rope.

Reading mnemonic

For ジョウ, imagine a rope being used to tie a large, heavy load onto a cart: the rope is strong and taut, like a 'jō' (a made-up sound for a sturdy rope). Jō -> ジョウ.