Readings: ショ, チョ (Onyomi), お, いとぐち, おび (Kunyomi)
Meaning: cord, strap, tie; beginning, in process, together
The kanji 緒 combines 糸 (いと, thread) and 者 (もの, person/thing). The 者 part acts as a phonetic component, giving the “sho” sound, and also contributes to the idea of “things connected” or “things put together.” Originally it referred to a “thread” or “cord,” expanding to “beginning” or “together.”
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 緒 is written with 14 strokes. The radical 糸 (thread) is on the left, followed by 者 on the right. Pay attention to the correct order of the strokes for each component.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 糸 (いとへん) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 14 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | Out of Joyo (Hyogai) |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ショ (sho)
- チョ (cho)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- お (o)
- いとぐち (itoguchi)
- おび (obi)
Common Words Using 緒
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 一緒 | いっしょ | together |
| 情緒 | じょうちょ | emotion, feeling, atmosphere |
| 端緒 | たんしょ | beginning, start, clue |
| 緒戦 | しょせん | initial battle/engagement |
| 緒言 | しょげん | preface, introduction |
| 緒論 | しょろん | introduction, preface (e.g., of a thesis) |
| 緒方 | おがた | Ogata (a common Japanese surname, irregular reading) |
| 緒太 | おだ | Oda (a common Japanese surname, irregular reading) |
| 機緒 | きしょ | opportunity, cause (literary) |
| 発緒 | はっしょ | initiation, beginning (literary) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 緒 | お | cord, strap, string (basic meaning of kanji, often implied in compounds) |
| 鼻緒 | はなお | thong (of a geta/zori) |
| 緒締め | おじめ | cord fastener (for traditional pouches) |
| 緒 | いとぐち | thread end, beginning, clue (this kanji can be read this way, though 糸口 is more common) |
| 緒 | おび | sash, belt (less common reading for 緒, usually written as 帯) |
| 緒元 | おげん | origin, source (rare, technical term) |
| 緒環 | おだまき | spool of thread (specific, traditional) |
| 緒口 | おぐち | outlet for a cord (rare compound) |
| 緒 | もと | base, origin (very rare reading, derived from ‘beginning’) |
| 緒 | くびお | neck cord (archaic/very rare) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 彼と一緒に行きましょう。
Kana: かれと いっしょに いきましょう。
Romaji: Kare to issho ni ikimashou.
English: Let’s go together with him.
Japanese: この曲は情緒的なメロディーですね。
Kana: この きょくは じょうちょてきな めろでぃーですね。
Romaji: Kono kyoku wa jōchoteki na merodī desu ne.
English: This song has an emotional melody, doesn’t it?
Japanese: 事件の端緒が見つかった。
Kana: じけんの たんしょが みつかった。
Romaji: Jiken no tansho ga mitsukatta.
English: A clue to the incident was found.
Japanese: 初めての試合で緒戦を飾った。
Kana: はじめての しあいで しょせんを かざった。
Romaji: Hajimete no shiai de shosen o kazatta.
English: They won their first match, marking an auspicious beginning.
Japanese: 新しい本の緒言を読んでみた。
Kana: あたらしい ほんの しょげんを よんでみた。
Romaji: Atarashii hon no shogen o yonde mita.
English: I tried reading the preface of the new book.
Japanese: 下駄の鼻緒が切れてしまった。
Kana: げたの はなおが きれてしまった。
Romaji: Geta no hanao ga kirete shimatta.
English: The thong of my geta broke.
Japanese: 論文の緒論はとても重要です。
Kana: ろんぶんの しょろんは とても じゅうようです。
Romaji: Ronbun no shoron wa totemo jūyō desu.
English: The introduction to a thesis is very important.
Japanese: この箱は緒締めが付いています。
Kana: この はこは おじめが ついています。
Romaji: Kono hako wa ojime ga tsuite imasu.
English: This box has a cord fastener.
Japanese: 彼らはいつも行動を共にし、固い絆で結ばれた戦いの緒でした。
Kana: かれらは いつも こうどうを ともにし、かたい きずなで むすばれた たたかいの おでした。
Romaji: Karera wa itsumo kōdō o tomo ni shi, katai kizuna de musubareta tatakai no o deshita.
English: They always acted together, and were the cord of battle bound by strong ties.
Japanese: 新しいプロジェクトの緒に着手した。
Kana: あたらしい ぷろじぇくと の おに ちゃくしゅした。
Romaji: Atarashii purojekuto no o ni chakushu shita.
English: We began to embark on the new project’s start/beginning.
Related Grammar & kanji list
Expand your study with grammar and kanji lists for other JLPT levels:
I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.