筋
Meanings
muscle; tendon; sinew
Refers to anatomical muscle, tendon, or sinew. Often used in cooking contexts for tough, fibrous parts of meat.
This meat has a lot of sinew, so it's better to stew it well.
Used for visible blood vessels, especially when they appear as raised lines under the skin.
Thick veins stand out on his arm.
Refers to fibrous texture in food, wood, or fabric. Often used for stringy parts of vegetables or meat.
Please remove the strings from the celery before chopping it.
General term for a thin line, stripe, or streak. Can be used for physical lines, marks, or patterns.
I drew a single line on the paper with a pencil.
Used in expressions like 筋が通る (to be logical) or 筋が通らない (to be illogical). Refers to coherence or a line of reasoning.
See also: 筋が通る
His explanation is logical and easy to understand.
Refers to the plot or storyline of a narrative, such as a novel, movie, or play.
This novel has a complex plot, and I reread it many times.
Refers to bloodline or family lineage. Often used in historical or formal contexts.
He comes from a family of samurai lineage.
Used for a school, tradition, or style in scholarship, arts, or martial arts.
He carries on the Omotesenke school of tea ceremony.
Refers to a natural aptitude or talent for something. Often used in phrases like 〜の筋がある.
He has a talent for drawing, so he'll improve quickly.
source (of information); channel
Refers to a source of information or a channel through which something is obtained. Often used in news or business contexts.
According to a reliable source, the president will resign.
well-informed person (in a deal)
Refers to a person who is knowledgeable or has inside information in a transaction or negotiation.
Let's ask someone well-informed in this industry.
logical move (in go, shogi)
In board games like go or shogi, refers to a move that follows a logical sequence or strategy.
That move was a logical one and disrupted the opponent's formation.
ninth vertical line (shogi)
In shogi, the ninth vertical line on the board, counted from the right side of each player.
Placing a pawn at the edge of the ninth file was effective.
seam on a helmet
Refers to the raised seam or ridge on a traditional Japanese helmet (kabuto).
The number of seams on the helmet indicated the warrior's rank.
gristly fish paste
Abbreviation of 筋蒲鉾 (sujikamaboko), a type of fish paste made with muscle, tendons, and skin, giving it a gristly texture.
See also: 筋蒲鉾
Adding gristly fish paste to oden gives an enjoyable texture.
social position; status
Archaic term for one's social standing or status.
In the Edo period, one's occupation was often determined by social status.
noun, used as a suffix, noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
Used as a suffix or with の to indicate something located along a geographical feature like a river or road.
A row of cherry trees continues along the river.
counter for long thin things; counter for roads/blocks
Counter for long, thin objects like lines, roads, or strands. Also used for blocks when giving directions.
Please turn right at the second street.
Only when written 筋
Used as a suffix in Osaka to indicate a street or district. Restricted to the kanji 筋.
Many shops line Shinsaibashi-suji street.
counter for hundreds of mon (Edo period)
Archaic counter used in the Edo period for hundreds of mon, an obsolete currency unit.
This item was sold for three suji, that is, three hundred mon.
Usage patterns
- 筋を痛めるto strain or pull a muscle
I strained a leg muscle from running at full speed.
- 筋が浮くfor veins to stand out (on skin)
When he flexes, the veins stand out on his arm.
- 筋を切るto cut out the tough fibers (e.g. from meat)
Cut out the tough fibers in the meat beforehand to make it tender.
- 筋ができるfor a streak or line to form
A white streak formed in the sky from the airplane.