締め
Meanings
tying up; binding; fastening; tightening
The act of tying, binding, or tightening something, often with a rope, string, or similar. Can be used literally or figuratively.
If the tying of the luggage is loose, it will come undone while being carried.
Used in financial or accounting contexts to mean the total or sum, often at the bottom of a bill or statement.
The total on the invoice was 50,000 yen including tax.
conclusion; end; finish; rounding off
The closing or wrapping up of an event, meeting, or activity. Often used in phrases like 締めの挨拶 (closing speech) or 締めくくり (finishing touch).
At the conclusion of the meeting, the department head said a few words.
final meal after a drinking party
A meal eaten at the end of a drinking session, often a light dish like ramen or ochazuke. A common cultural practice in Japan.
After a drinking party, I like to finish with ramen.
dish made by adding rice or noodles to leftover hot pot broth
A dish created by adding rice, noodles, or other ingredients to the remaining broth of a hot pot (nabe) meal. A popular way to enjoy the flavorful broth at the end.
We added udon to the hot pot broth as the final dish and ate it.
choking technique; stranglehold
In judo and other martial arts, a technique that involves choking or strangling an opponent.
He is good at choking techniques and often wins by ippon in matches.
closure mark
Only when written 〆
A mark (often written as 〆) placed over the sealable flap of an envelope to indicate it has been sealed. Also used more generally as a symbol for 'closed' or 'finalized'.
Write the closure mark (〆) on the envelope's seal.
counter for bundles
A counter used for bundles of items such as wood, cotton, or other materials. Rare in modern usage.
I bought one bundle of firewood.
counter for reams of Japanese writing paper
A counter specifically for reams of 2000 sheets of traditional Japanese writing paper (半紙). Very rare and specialized.
See also: 半紙
I ordered two reams of Japanese writing paper.
Usage patterns
- 締めて〈数〉円totaling ... yen (used when stating a final sum)
The total bill comes to five thousand yen altogether.
- 締めの挨拶をするto give the closing speech (at an event)
The department head gave the closing speech at the year-end party.
- 締めに〈物〉を食べるto eat ... as the final dish after drinking
We had ramen as the final dish to finish off the drinking party.
- 鍋の締めに〈物〉を入れるto add ... to the leftover broth at the end of a hot pot meal
We added udon noodles to the broth at the end of the hot pot.
- 〈相手〉に締めを極めるto lock in a chokehold on someone
The fighter locked in a chokehold around his opponent's neck.
Expressions
- 締めくくりをつけるbring to a finish; wrap up; conclude
- 勝って兜の緒を締めよdon't let your guard down after a victory; tighten your helmet strings after winning
- ふんどしを締めてかかるroll up one's sleeves and get to work; buckle down