端たん緒しょ

also: たんちょ

た

ん

しょ

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

Refers to the very beginning or a hint that leads to understanding something; often used in formal or written contexts.

けつ

の

端たん

緒しょ

を

つかん

だ

。

We found a clue to solving the case.

研けん究きゅうの端たん緒しょは小ちいさな疑ぎ問もんから始はじまった。

The beginning of the research started from a small question.

〈事こと〉の端たん緒しょをつかむto grasp/find the first clue (to something)
警けい察さつは事じ件けん解かい決けつの端たん緒しょをつかんだ。
The police found the first lead toward solving the case.
〈事こと〉の端たん緒しょとなるto become the starting point/trigger for something
その発はっ見けんが新あたらしい研けん究きゅうの端たん緒しょとなった。
That discovery became the starting point for new research.
〈事こと〉の端たん緒しょを開ひらくto open up the beginning (of an undertaking, era, etc.)
この条じょう約やくは両りょう国こく関かん係けい改かい善ぜんの端たん緒しょを開ひらいた。

発ほっ端たんN1
発端 refers to the actual triggering event that starts a chain of events, while 端緒 is the clue or first sign that reveals such a beginning.
糸いと口ぐち
糸口 is a slightly more everyday word for a small clue that lets you start unraveling a problem, while 端緒 sounds more formal and literary.
手て掛がかりN1
手がかり is the common word for a clue or lead in everyday speech, while 端緒 is more literary and can also mean the very start of something.
始はじまりN3
始まり is a general word for 'beginning' usable in any context, while 端緒 is formal and often implies the initial clue or trigger that leads to something.
きっかけN3
きっかけ is a casual, everyday word for an opportunity or trigger that starts something, while 端緒 is used in stiff, formal writing.

端緒Usage100%
- たんしょ
  Standard kanji spelling; the reading たんしょ is the most common.
- たんちょ
  Alternate reading; less common than たんしょ.
たんちょ

端 (edge, beginning) + 緒 (thread, beginning). The combination suggests the 'thread' that leads to the start of something.

This treaty opened the way toward improved relations between the two countries.