Skip to content
道Nihongo Path
綱

綱·rope, cable, principle

On-yomi
コウ
Kun-yomi
つな

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

14 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
綱つなthick rope, cable
綱引きつなひきtug of war
綱領こうりょうplatform, general principles
横綱よこづなyokozuna, top-ranked sumo wrestler

Example sentences

  1. 運動会で綱引きをした。

    うんどうかいでつなひきをした。

    We had a tug of war at the sports day.

  2. 横綱が土俵に上がると場内が静まった。

    よこづながどひょうにあがるとじょうないがしずまった。

    The hall fell silent when the yokozuna stepped into the ring.

  3. 党の綱領が改められた。

    とうのこうりょうがあらためられた。

    The party's platform was revised.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 横綱 as よこつな — it voices to よこづな
  • Confusing 綱 (つな, rope) with 鋼 (steel) in compounds such as 鋼鉄 (こうてつ)

Memory aid

Picture it

Thread 糸 plus 岡 (a hill ridge): a rope as thick and firm as a ridge line — strong enough that a whole team can pull on it.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5

What does the kanji 綱 mean?