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Kotomora

縷

thread

Strokes17

Readings

On'yomi

  • ル
  • ロウ

Kun'yomi

  • いと

Meaning

縷 centers on a single thin strand: a thread. It can refer to literal thread or to something thread-like, such as a slender line or a detailed, continuous account.

Most common words using 縷

  • 縷々るる

    in detail; minutely; at great length

  • 一縷いちる

    slightest connection; slender connection; sliver (e.g. of hope)

  • 一縷の望みいちるののぞみ

    sliver of hope; gleam of hope; ray of hope

  • 南蛮繁縷なんばんはこべ

    berry catchfly (Silene baccifera); Cucubalus baccifer (former name)

  • 瑠璃繁縷るりはこべ

    scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis)

  • 縷々綿々るるめんめん

    going on and on in tedious detail

  • 縷紅草るこうそう

    cypress vine (Ipomoea quamoclit); cypressvine morning-glory; cardinal creeper

  • 縷言るげん

    detailed explanation

  • 縷説るせつ

    detailed explanation

  • 縷述るじゅつ

    detailed explanation

  • 縷陳るちん

    detailed explanation

  • 赤花瑠璃繁縷あかばなるりはこべ

    scarlet pimpernel

Explore all words using 縷 →

Study

Etymology

縷 combines 糸 (thread) with 婁, which likely contributes the sound and may have originally depicted something tied or bound, reinforcing the thread idea.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 糸 is thread, and the right side 婁 looks like a spool or a tied bundle. Picture a single thread being pulled from a spool: 縷 is that thread.

Reading mnemonic

For ル, imagine a thread looping around a spool: loop -> ル, and the thread winds around.