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What is the Kanji for 'Beginning' and 'Preface'? | 序

If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for 'Beginning' and 'Preface', you've come to the right place!

The Japanese Kanji for 'Beginning' and 'Preface' is 序.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Beginning, Preface

    Reading

    onyomiじょ

    jo

    Parts

    广Dotted cliff Beforehand

    Example Word

    秩序: order. The Japanese noun '秩序 (ちつじょ)' means 'order' in the sense of a systematic or harmonious arrangement. It is often used to describe social, natural, or organizational systems where things are structured and functioning properly. For example: maintaining social order「社会の秩序を守る」(しゃかいのちつじょをまもる). The natural order of the ecosystem「生態系の秩序」(せいたいけいのちつじょ). This word is commonly used in formal or academic contexts to discuss stability, rules, or systems. It is not used to describe personal tidiness or neatness, which would be expressed with words like '整理 (せいり)'.

    Radical

    广

    Stroke Count

    7

    JLPT

    N1

    Grade

    5

    Frequency

    1159

    Handwriting

Parts of the Kanji

If you visually break down this kanji, you can see it is made up of 2 parts:

    radical

    广

    Meaning

    Dotted cliff

    kanji

    Meaning

    Beforehand

Words Using

This kanji is used in 3 words:

    word

    秩序

    Meaning

    Order

    word

    序で

    Meaning

    Opportunity

    word

    順序

    Meaning

    Order, Sequence

Kanji Related to Through the Part 广

These 21 kanji contain the part 广 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Wide

    kanji

    Meaning

    Shop

    kanji

    Meaning

    Sit, Seat

    kanji

    Meaning

    Degrees, Times

    kanji

    Meaning

    Seat

    kanji

    Meaning

    Government office, Urban prefecture

    kanji

    Meaning

    Warehouse

    kanji

    Meaning

    Garden

    kanji

    Meaning

    Government office, Agency

    kanji

    Meaning

    Bed, Floor

    kanji

    Meaning

    Corridor, Passageway

    kanji

    Meaning

    Bottom

    kanji

    Meaning

    Answer, Respond

    kanji

    Meaning

    Healthy, Peaceful

    kanji

    Meaning

    Waste, Abolish

    kanji

    Meaning

    Commoner, Manifold

    kanji

    Meaning

    Hemp, Numb

    kanji

    Meaning

    Cheap, Bargain

    kanji

    Meaning

    Tang dynasty

    kanji

    Meaning

    Ordinary, Common

    kanji

    鹿

    Meaning

    Deer

Kanji Related to Through the Part

These 2 kanji contain the part 予 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Field

    kanji

    Meaning

    Deposit

Learn the Kanji

Let's make sure you fully understand this kanji.

What does 序 mean?

序 means 'Beginning' and 'Preface'.

Japanese school students learn this kanji in Fifth Grade, while non-native learners often study it for the JLPT N1 exam.

To help you master this kanji, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.