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道Nihongo Path
縫

縫·sew, stitch

On-yomi
ホウ
Kun-yomi
ぬ(う)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
縫うぬうto sew, to stitch
裁縫さいほうsewing, needlework
縫い目ぬいめseam, stitch
縫製ほうせいgarment manufacture

Example sentences

  1. 母がボタンを縫ってくれた。

    ははがボタンをぬってくれた。

    My mother sewed the button on for me.

  2. 傷口を五針縫いました。

    きずぐちをごはりぬいました。

    They put five stitches in the wound.

  3. 学校で裁縫を習ったことがある。

    がっこうでさいほうをならったことがある。

    I learned sewing at school once.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

  • 縫逢逢 (to meet) shares the 夆 element, but takes the road radical (辶) instead of thread (糸).

Common mistakes

  • Reading 裁縫 as さいぬい — it is さいほう
  • Confusing 縫う (ぬう, sew) with 塗る (ぬる, paint)

Memory aid

Picture it

Thread (糸) meeting up along a road (辶) — the needle travels and joins the cloth together.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 縫 mean?