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Kotomora

章

badge, chapter, composition, poem, design

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · grade 3FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes11

Readings

On'yomi

  • ショウ

Kun'yomi

—

Nanori

  • あき
  • あきら
  • あや
  • ふみ

Meaning

章 centers on a clear, structured mark or section: a badge or emblem that identifies, a chapter or composition that organizes writing, and a design or poem that arranges elements into a coherent whole.

Most common words using 章

20 of 124
  • 章しょう
    N3

    chapter; section

  • 文章ぶんしょう
    N5

    writing; composition; essay; article; passage; prose; (writing) style

  • 勲章くんしょう

    decoration; order; medal

  • 紋章もんしょう

    crest; coat of arms

  • 楽章がくしょう

    movement

  • 憲章けんしょう

    charter

  • 序章じょしょう

    preface; foreword; introduction; introductory chapter

  • 終章しゅうしょう

    final chapter; last chapter; last section (of a book, essay, song etc.); epilogue

  • 褒章ほうしょう

    medal of honour; medal of merit

  • 印章いんしょう

    stamp; seal

  • 記章きしょう

    medal; badge; insignia

  • 星章せいしょう

    star (badge)

  • 受章じゅしょう

    reception of a decoration; reception of an order

  • 日章旗にっしょうき

    national flag of Japan

  • 腕章わんしょう

    armband; arm band; brassard

  • 校章こうしょう

    school badge; school emblem; school insignia

  • 肩章けんしょう

    shoulder mark; shoulder board; epaulette; epaulet

  • 断章だんしょう

    literary fragment

  • 本章ほんしょう

    this chapter

  • 紫綬褒章しじゅほうしょう

    Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon (awarded for scholarly or artistic achievement)

Explore all words using 章 →

Study

Etymology

章 combines 音 (sound) and 十 (ten), originally suggesting a complete musical piece or a clear pattern. Over time it came to mean a distinct section, badge, or design.

Meaning mnemonic

The top 立 stands for standing out, and the bottom 早 suggests early clarity. Imagine a bright badge pinned to a chapter heading, making the design stand out clearly.

Reading mnemonic

For ショウ, picture a show where each chapter has a unique badge design: show -> ショウ, and the badge marks each act.