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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

    序

    Meaning

    Beginning, Preface

    Reading

    onyomiじょ

    jo

    Parts

    广Dotted cliff 予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 序

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

    radical

    广

    Meaning

    Dotted cliff

    kanji

    予

    Meaning

    Beforehand

Words Using 序

This kanji is used in 3 words:

    word

    序で

    Meaning

    Opportunity

    word

    順序

    Meaning

    Order, Sequence

    word

    秩序

    Meaning

    Order

Kanji Related to 序 Through the Part 广

These 21 kanji contain the part 广 as well.

    kanji

    廉

    Meaning

    Cheap, Bargain

    kanji

    庸

    Meaning

    Ordinary, Common

    kanji

    廊

    Meaning

    Corridor, Passageway

    kanji

    座

    Meaning

    Sit, Seat

    kanji

    庫

    Meaning

    Warehouse

    kanji

    店

    Meaning

    Shop

    kanji

    床

    Meaning

    Bed, Floor

    kanji

    応

    Meaning

    Answer, Respond

    kanji

    庁

    Meaning

    Government office, Agency

    kanji

    唐

    Meaning

    Tang dynasty

    kanji

    広

    Meaning

    Wide

    kanji

    廃

    Meaning

    Waste, Abolish

    kanji

    麻

    Meaning

    Hemp, Numb

    kanji

    底

    Meaning

    Bottom

    kanji

    康

    Meaning

    Healthy, Peaceful

    kanji

    席

    Meaning

    Seat

    kanji

    庶

    Meaning

    Commoner, Manifold

    kanji

    鹿

    Meaning

    Deer

    kanji

    庭

    Meaning

    Garden

    kanji

    度

    Meaning

    Degrees, Times

    kanji

    府

    Meaning

    Government office, Urban prefecture

Kanji Related to 序 Through the Part 予

These 2 kanji contain the part 予 as well.

    kanji

    野

    Meaning

    Field

    kanji

    預

    Meaning

    Deposit

Learn the Kanji 序

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.