渋
渋·astringent, sluggish, reluctant
- On-yomi
- ジュウ
- Kun-yomi
- しぶ(い)しぶ(る)しぶ
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 渋滞 | じゅうたい | traffic congestion |
| 渋い | しぶい | astringent, bitter; understatedly tasteful |
| 苦渋 | くじゅう | bitterness, distress |
| 渋谷 | しぶや | Shibuya (district of Tokyo) |
Example sentences
高速道路がひどく渋滞している。
こうそくどうろがひどくじゅうたいしている。
The expressway is badly congested.
このお茶は渋くて飲みにくい。
このおちゃはしぶくてのみにくい。
This tea is astringent and hard to drink.
彼は苦渋の決断を下した。
かれはくじゅうのけつだんをくだした。
He made an agonizing decision.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Reading 渋滞 as しぶたい — it is じゅうたい
- 渋い of a person or design means 'understatedly cool', not 'bitter' — praise, not complaint
Memory aid
Picture it
氵 (water) with stop-marks beside it: a flow that keeps checking itself — sluggish traffic, and a taste that pulls the tongue up short.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
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What does the kanji 渋 mean?