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Kotomora

筒

cylinder, pipe, tube, gun barrel, sleeve

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes12

Readings

On'yomi

  • トウ

Kun'yomi

  • つつ

Meaning

筒 centers on a hollow cylindrical shape: a tube, pipe, or cylinder. The gun barrel and sleeve senses are specific applications of that same tubular form.

Most common words using 筒

20 of 68
  • 筒つつ
    N1

    pipe; tube; cylinder

  • 封筒ふうとう
    N5

    envelope

  • 水筒すいとう
    N2

    canteen; flask; water bottle; thermos

  • 気筒きとう

    cylinder

  • 筒井つつい

    round well

  • 円筒えんとう

    cylinder

  • 筒抜けつつぬけ

    being heard (by others); being overheard; being leaked (of plans, secrets, etc.)

  • 井筒いづつ

    well curb; well kerb

  • 竹筒たけづつ

    container made by cutting a piece of bamboo lengthways; bamboo tube; bamboo cylinder

  • 筒子ピンズ

    dot tiles; circle tiles

  • 発炎筒はつえんとう

    (warning) flare (esp. used on roads and railways)

  • 矢筒やづつ

    quiver

  • 発煙筒はつえんとう

    smoke bomb; smoke candle

  • くじ筒くじづつ

    tube for shaking and dispensing lottery sticks

  • クッション封筒クッションふうとう

    padded envelope

  • ロケット発射筒ロケットはっしゃとう

    rocket launcher

  • 円筒プリンターえんとうプリンター

    barrel printer

  • 円筒図法えんとうずほう

    cylindrical projection

  • 円筒形えんとうけい

    cylindrical

  • 写真天頂筒しゃしんてんちょうとう

    photographic zenith tube

Explore all words using 筒 →

Study

Etymology

筒 combines 竹 (bamboo) with 同, which likely contributes the sound. Bamboo tubes or pipes are a natural source for the meaning of cylinder or tube.

Meaning mnemonic

Bamboo 竹 is naturally hollow and tubular, and 同 reinforces the idea of a uniform hollow shape. Picture a bamboo stalk cut into a straight cylinder or pipe.

Reading mnemonic

For トウ, imagine a toe stuck inside a narrow bamboo tube: toe -> トウ, and the tube is just wide enough for a toe.