Readings: ソク (Onyomi), たば, たば.ねる, つか, つか.ねる (Kunyomi)
Meaning: bundle, bunch, tie, organize
The kanji 束 is a pictogram of a bundle of wood or grain tied together, representing the idea of bundling or tying things.
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 束 is written with 7 strokes. The stroke order begins with the vertical stroke on the left, followed by the horizontal strokes and the box-like structure, and finally the inner diagonal strokes and the bottom horizontal line.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 束 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 7 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | 3 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ソク (Soku)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- たば (taba)
- たばねる (tabaneru)
- つか (tsuka)
- つかねる (tsukaneru)
Common Words Using 束
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 約束 | やくそく | promise, appointment |
| 結束 | けっそく | unity, cohesion, solidarity |
| 拘束 | こうそく | restriction, restraint, binding |
| 束縛 | そくばく | restraint, bondage |
| 一束 | いっそく | a bundle (e.g., of paper, rice stalks) |
| 管束 | かんそく | control, supervision |
| 把束 | はそく | bundle, sheaf |
| 総束 | そうそく | general bundle/collection |
| 兼束 | けんそく | (historical) holding two posts |
| 金束 | きんそく | metal band/binding (less common, descriptive) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 束 | たば | bundle, bunch, sheaf |
| 束ねる | たばねる | to tie up, to bundle, to manage |
| 花束 | はなたば | bouquet of flowers |
| 札束 | さつたば | wad of bills/money |
| 一束 | ひとたば | one bundle/bunch |
| 藁束 | わらたば | straw bundle |
| 薪束 | まきたば | bundle of firewood |
| 束の間 | つかのま | a moment, a short time |
| 髪束 | かみだば | bundle of hair |
| 手束 | てづか | hand-length measure; hand-hold (less common for “bundle” sense but valid kun reading) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 彼は友達と約束をした。
Kana: かれはともだちとやくそくをした。
Romaji: Kare wa tomodachi to yakusoku o shita.
English: He made a promise with his friend.
Japanese: チームの結束が勝利につながった。
Kana: チームのけっそくがしょうりにつながった。
Romaji: Chiimu no kessoku ga shouri ni tsunagatta.
English: The team’s unity led to victory.
Japanese: 髪の毛をゴムで束ねた。
Kana: かみのけをゴムでたばねた。
Romaji: Kami no ke o gomu de tabaneta.
English: I tied up my hair with a rubber band.
Japanese: 彼女は美しい花束を受け取った。
Kana: かのじょはうつくしいはなたばをうけとった。
Romaji: Kanojo wa utsukushii hanataba o uketotta.
English: She received a beautiful bouquet.
Japanese: 彼の言動は自由を束縛する。
Kana: かれのげんどうはじゆうをそくばくする。
Romaji: Kare no gendou wa jiyuu o sokubaku suru.
English: His words and actions restrict freedom.
Japanese: 警察は容疑者を拘束した。
Kana: けいさつはようぎしゃをこうそくした。
Romaji: Keisatsu wa yougisha o kousoku shita.
English: The police restrained the suspect.
Japanese: 机の上には本の束がある。
Kana: つくえのうえにはほんのたばがある。
Romaji: Tsukue no ue ni wa hon no taba ga aru.
English: There is a bundle of books on the desk.
Japanese: 彼は札束を数えている。
Kana: かれはさつたばをかぞえている。
Romaji: Kare wa satsutaba o kazoeteiru.
English: He is counting a wad of bills.
Japanese: 束の間、彼の顔に笑顔が戻った。
Kana: つかのま、かれのかおにえがおがもどった。
Romaji: Tsukanoma, kare no kao ni egao ga modotta.
English: For a moment, a smile returned to his face.
Japanese: 郵便配達員は新聞の束を運んでいた。
Kana: ゆうびんはいたついいんはしんぶんのたばをはこんでいた。
Romaji: Yuubin haitatsu-in wa shinbun no taba o hakondeita.
English: The mail carrier was carrying a bundle of newspapers.
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