Readings: ソウ (Onyomi), く-る, く-れる (Kunyomi)
Meaning: Reel, spin, turn over, repeat, reiterate
Formed from 糸 (thread, silk) and 操 (operate, handle). The character originally depicts handling thread, leading to meanings of reeling, spinning, and by extension, repeating an action.
View JLPT N1 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 繰 (kuri) has 18 strokes. It starts with the ‘糸’ radical on the left, followed by the ‘操’ component on the right. Pay attention to the correct stroke order for both parts to ensure proper writing. The ‘糸’ radical is written first, followed by the right-hand component starting with the vertical stroke.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 糸 (いとへん) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 18 |
| JLPT Level | N1 |
| Grade | Jōyō (Common Use Kanji) |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ソウ (SOU)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- くる (kuru)
- くれる (kureru)
Common Words Using 繰
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 繰糸 | そうし | reeling (silk/thread) |
| 繰練 | そうれん | repeated practice (rare, specialized) |
| 繰作 | そうさく | repetitive operation (rare, technical) |
| 繰合 | そうごう | repeated meeting/collation (very rare, historical) |
| 繰替 | そうたい | repeated exchange (very rare, historical) |
| 繰返 | そうへん | repetition (rare, variant of 繰り返し) |
| 繰上 | そうじょう | advancing (rare, variant of 繰り上げる) |
| 繰下 | そうげ | postponing (rare, variant of 繰り下げる) |
| 繰出 | そうしゅつ | reeling out, expelling (rare, related to 繰り出す) |
| 繰出機 | そうしゅつき | reeling machine (technical term) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 繰り返す | くりかえす | to repeat, to do over again |
| 繰り上げる | くりあげる | to move up (a date, time), to advance |
| 繰り下げる | くりさげる | to move down (a date, time), to postpone |
| 繰り出す | くりだす | to sally forth, to pour out (of a place), to reel out (thread/line) |
| 繰り越し | くりこし | carry-over, balance carried forward |
| 繰り広げる | くりひろげる | to unfold, to unroll, to develop (a scene) |
| 手繰る | たぐる | to pull in (a rope, line, etc.), to grope for |
| 繰り言 | くりごと | grumbling, complaint, oft-repeated complaint |
| 縒り繰る | よりくる | to twist and reel (thread) |
| 繰り回す | くりまわす | to manage, to handle, to move around (something) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: この作業を毎日繰り返します。
Kana: このさぎょうをまいにちくりかえします。
Romaji: Kono sagyō o mainichi kurikaeshimasu.
English: I repeat this task every day.
Japanese: 会議の時間を30分繰り上げました。
Kana: かいぎのじかんをさんじゅっぷんくりあげました。
Romaji: Kaigi no jikan o sanjuppun kuriagemashita.
English: We moved up the meeting time by 30 minutes.
Japanese: 発表の日程を来週に繰り下げました。
Kana: はっぴょうのにっていをらいしゅうにくりさげました。
Romaji: Happyou no nittei o raishuu ni kurisagemashita.
English: We postponed the presentation schedule to next week.
Japanese: 多くの人がイベント会場へ繰り出した。
Kana: おおくのひとがイベントかいじょうへくりだした。
Romaji: Ooku no hito ga ibento kaijou e kuridashita.
English: Many people poured out to the event venue.
Japanese: 未払金は翌月に繰り越されます。
Kana: みはらいきんはよくげつにくりこされます。
Romaji: Miharaikin wa yokogetsu ni kurikosaremasu.
English: Unpaid amounts will be carried over to the next month.
Japanese: 感動的な物語が目の前で繰り広げられた。
Kana: かんどうてきなものがたりがめのまえでくりひろげられた。
Romaji: Kandō-tekina monogatari ga me no mae de kurihiragerareta.
English: A moving story unfolded before my eyes.
Japanese: 彼は釣り糸をゆっくりと手繰った。
Kana: かれはつりいとをゆっくりとたぐった。
Romaji: Kare wa tsuriito o yukkuri to tagutta.
English: He slowly reeled in the fishing line.
Japanese: 年寄りの繰り言ばかり聞かされた。
Kana: としよりのくりごとばかりきかされた。
Romaji: Toshiyori no kurigoto bakari kikasareta.
English: I was forced to listen to nothing but the old person’s grumbling.
Japanese: 古い工場ではまだ繰糸機が使われている。
Kana: ふるいこうじょうではまだそうしきがつかわれている。
Romaji: Furui kōjō de wa mada sōshi-ki ga tsukawarete iru.
English: The old factory still uses a silk reeling machine.
Japanese: この計画をうまく繰り回す必要があります。
Kana: このけいかくをうまくくりまわすひつようがあります。
Romaji: Kono keikaku o umaku kurimawasu hitsuyō ga arimasu.
English: It is necessary to manage this plan well.
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.