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Kotomora

束

bundle, sheaf, ream, tie in bundles, govern, manage, control

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 4FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes7

Readings

On'yomi

  • ソク

Kun'yomi

  • たば
  • たば.ねる
  • つか
  • つか.ねる

Meaning

束 centers on gathering things together and binding them into a single unit: a bundle, sheaf, or ream. The ideas of governing, managing, and controlling extend naturally from the image of holding things tightly together.

Most common words using 束

20 of 122
  • 約束やくそく
    N5

    promise; agreement; arrangement; one's word; contract; pact

  • 拘束こうそく
    N1

    restriction; restraint; binding; constraint

  • 束たば
    N3

    bundle; bunch; sheaf

  • 花束はなたば
    N1

    bunch of flowers; bouquet

  • 収束しゅうそく

    conclusion; resolution; settling (e.g. of a dispute); returning to normal

  • 束縛そくばく
    N1

    restraint; restriction; fetters; yoke; shackles

  • 結束けっそく
    N1

    union; unity; solidarity

  • 札束さつたば

    bundle of banknotes; stack of bills

  • 束ねたばね

    bundle; control; management

  • 装束しょうぞく

    costume; dress; attire

  • 束ねるたばねる
    N1

    to tie up in a bundle (e.g. straw, hair, bills, letters); to bundle; to sheathe

  • 約束事やくそくごと

    promise; vow; engagement

  • 二束三文にそくさんもん

    dirt cheap; very cheap

  • 口約束くちやくそく

    verbal promise; one's word

  • 覚束ないおぼつかない

    uncertain; doubtful; unpromising

  • 白装束しろしょうぞく

    white clothing

  • 黒装束くろしょうぞく

    black clothes

  • 磁束じそく

    magnetic flux

  • 約束通りやくそくどおり

    as promised

  • 約束手形やくそくてがた

    promissory note

Explore all words using 束 →

Study

Etymology

束 is a pictograph of a bag or bundle tied at both ends, with the central 口 representing the gathered contents and the surrounding strokes the binding. The modern form preserves this bundled shape clearly.

Meaning mnemonic

The vertical stroke runs through a box-like middle, like a cord tied tightly around a bundle of sticks or papers. The whole shape looks like something gathered and bound together.

Reading mnemonic

For ソク, imagine a sock used to tie a bundle of sticks: sock -> ソク, and the sock binds everything tightly.