絞
絞·wring, strangle, narrow down
- On-yomi
- コウ
- Kun-yomi
- しぼ(る)し(める)し(まる)
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 絞る | しぼる | to wring, to narrow down |
| 絞殺 | こうさつ | strangulation |
| 絞める | しめる | to strangle, to tighten around the neck |
| 絞り込む | しぼりこむ | to narrow down (candidates, conditions) |
Example sentences
タオルをよく絞ってください。
たおるをよくしぼってください。
Please wring the towel out well.
候補を三人に絞り込んだ。
こうほをさんにんにしぼりこんだ。
We narrowed the candidates down to three.
テレビの音量を絞ってもらえますか。
てれびのおんりょうをしぼってもらえますか。
Could you turn the TV volume down?
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Mixing 絞める (to strangle) with 締める (to fasten, tighten a belt) and 閉める (to shut) — all しめる
- Using 搾る where 絞る is meant: narrowing down a list is 絞る, never 搾る
Memory aid
Picture it
Thread 糸 plus 交 (to cross): two strands crossed over each other and twisted tight — wringing, or a cord around a neck.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
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What does the kanji 絞 mean?