# 渋 — astringent; reluctant

渋 means “astringent; reluctant”. It is a JLPT N1 kanji written with 11 strokes. On'yomi: ジュウ (juu), シュウ (shuu). Kun'yomi: しぶ (shibu). You'll see it in words such as 渋い (shibui, “astringent; bitter”).

- Meaning: astringent; reluctant
- On'yomi: ジュウ (juu), シュウ (shuu)
- Kun'yomi: しぶ (shibu)
- Strokes: 11
- Level: JLPT N1 · set Food & cooking 1

## How to remember 渋

Parts: 氵 water · 止 stop · 冫 ice

## Words with 渋

| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 渋い | しぶい (shibui) | astringent; bitter |
| 渋る | しぶる (shiburu) | to be reluctant; to be unwilling |
| 渋々 | しぶしぶ (shibushibu) | reluctantly; unwillingly |

## Don't confuse it with

[溺](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/drown/)

## More in the “Food & cooking 1” set

[渋](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/astringent/) · [酸](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/acid/) · [腐](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/rot/) · [糧](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/provisions/) · [豆](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/bean/) · [糖](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/sugar/) · [煮](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/boil-food/) · [酔](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/intoxicated/)

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From Moji Ninja (https://moji.ninja/), a free app for learning hiragana, katakana and the JLPT kanji from N5 to N1 with spaced repetition. Page: https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/astringent/. Last updated 2026-11-01.