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道Nihongo Path
束

束·bundle, bunch

On-yomi
ソク
Kun-yomi
たば

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

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

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

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
約束やくそくpromise, appointment
花束はなたばbouquet
束たばa bundle, a bunch
束ねるたばねるto bundle up, to tie together

Example sentences

  1. 友だちと十時に会う約束をしました。

    ともだちとじゅうじにあうやくそくをしました。

    I made a promise to meet my friend at ten.

  2. 母の誕生日に花束をあげた。

    ははのたんじょうびにはなたばをあげた。

    I gave my mother a bouquet for her birthday.

  3. 古い新聞を束ねて出しておいてください。

    ふるいしんぶんをたばねてだしておいてください。

    Please tie up the old newspapers and put them out.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Writing 東 instead of 束 in 約束 — count the strokes in the middle box
  • Reading 花束 as *はなそく; it is はなたば

Memory aid

Picture it

Firewood tied around the middle with a band — a tree with a rope knotted round it.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 束 mean?