Back to dictionary
JLPT N115画 · 15 strokesradical 糸grade 4freq #1075Kanken level 7Jōyō kanji

straw rope, cord

On'yomi (音読み)

  • ジョウ

Kun'yomi (訓読み)

  • なわ
  • ただ.す

Mnemonic

Visualize a thick straw rope twisting around itself like a serpent, its threads intertwining tightly to symbolize the strength and utility of a cord.

About this kanji

The kanji 縄 (nawa) primarily means "rope" or "cord." It is often used as a noun, and you can see it in interesting compounds. For example, 沖縄 (Okinawa) is a region in Japan, while 縄文 (Jomon) refers to a style of ancient pottery that featured a rope pattern. Another common term is 縄張り (nawabari), which means a territory marked out by ropes. This kanji can also appear in daily language, like in 腰縄 (koshinawa), meaning a type of leash. A quick note: when you see this kanji, it often evokes ideas of connection or boundaries.

Example sentences

  • 縄を使って物を結ぶ。

    I tie things with a rope.

Meanings across languages

English
straw rope, cord
Tiếng Việt
dây thừng
日本語
縄
한국어
줄
中文
绳
id
tali jerami, tali
th
เชือกฟาง, สาย
es
cuerda de paja, cordón
fr
corde de paille, cordon
de
Strohseil, Schnur
pt
corda de palha, cordão

Common compounds

  • 沖縄おきなわOkinawa (city, prefecture)
  • 縄文じょうもんstraw-rope pattern pressed into earthenware, Jōmon period (ca. 14000-1000 BCE)
  • 縄張りなわばりstretching a rope around, roping off, cordoning off
  • 一筋縄ひとすじなわ(piece of) rope, ordinary method
  • 腰縄こしなわleash, rope tied round prisoner's waists
  • 火縄銃ひなわじゅうmatchlock, arquebus
  • 縄跳びなわとびskipping rope, jump rope, skipping
  • 荷縄になわpacking cord

Words using this kanji

Want to actually learn this kanji?

The dictionary is one view. The Kanji 360 app wraps every character with mnemonic images, audio readings, stroke-order animation, story context, and SRS scheduling — free to start on iPhone, iPad, and Android.

読んで、覚えて、話す。

Read · Remember · Speak. Get Kanji 360 free and try the N5 catalogue in your first session.