# 縮 — shrink

縮 means “shrink”. It is a JLPT N1 kanji written with 17 strokes. On'yomi: シュク (shuku). Kun'yomi: ちぢ(む) (chijimu). You'll see it in words such as 縮む (chijimu, “to shrink; to contract”).

- Meaning: shrink
- On'yomi: シュク (shuku)
- Kun'yomi: ちぢ(む) (chijimu)
- Strokes: 17
- Level: JLPT N1 · set Change & making

## How to remember 縮

Sounds like 宿: both read シュク.

Parts: 糸 thread · 宿 inn

## Words with 縮

| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 縮む | ちぢむ (chijimu) | to shrink; to contract |
| 縮める | ちぢめる (chijimeru) | to shorten; to reduce |
| 縮れる | ちぢれる (chijireru) | to be wavy; to be curled |

## Don't confuse it with

[線](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/line/) · [綿](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/cotton/) · [綻](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/burst-open/)

## More in the “Change & making” set

[融](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/fuse/) · [廃](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/abolish/) · [創](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/originate/) · [縮](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/shrink/) · [衰](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/decline/) · [翻](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/turn-over/) · [凝](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/congeal/) · [矯](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/straighten/)

---

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/shrink/. Last updated 2026-11-01.