絞 — “Strangle / Constrict / Wring” in Japanese

Master (高手)こう, しぼ, し

Radical ⽷ · radical 120 The building block this kanji is filed under

“Strangle / Constrict / Wring” in Japanese is 絞, read kou, shibo, shi (こう, しぼ, し). It is a Jōyō kanji taught in Japanese secondary school (junior & senior high) — the 高手 · Master tier beyond the grade 1–6 Kyōiku set, and appears in words such as 絞殺 (strangling).

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What does 絞 mean?

Full details, readings & example

Kanji	絞
Meaning	Strangle / Constrict / Wring
Readings	こう, しぼ, し
Grade	Master (高手 · secondary school)
Curriculum	Jōyō kanji · Japanese secondary school (JLPT N1–N2)
Example	絞殺 (strangling)

How to read 絞

絞 is read kou (こう) or shibo (しぼ) or shi (し) depending on the word.

Words with 絞

絞殺

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Kanji read the same way as 絞

Same sound, different character — the classic trap. Compare them side by side:

Updated: 2026-08-28