# 絞 — squeeze; wring

絞 means “squeeze; wring”. It is a JLPT N1 kanji written with 12 strokes. On'yomi: コウ (kou). Kun'yomi: しぼ(る) (shiboru), し(める) (shimeru). You'll see it in words such as 絞る (shiboru, “to wring; to squeeze”).

- Meaning: squeeze; wring
- On'yomi: コウ (kou)
- Kun'yomi: しぼ(る) (shiboru), し(める) (shimeru)
- Strokes: 12
- Level: JLPT N1 · set Hands at work 4

## How to remember 絞

Sounds like 交: both read コウ.

Parts: 糸 thread · 交 mix

## Words with 絞

| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 絞る | しぼる (shiboru) | to wring; to squeeze |
| 絞り | しぼり (shibori) | shibori; tie-dye |

## Don't confuse it with

[統](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/unite/) · [素](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/element/) · [紙](https://moji.ninja/n4-kanji/paper/) · [終](https://moji.ninja/n4-kanji/end/)

## More in the “Hands at work 4” set

[擁](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/stand-by/) · [摩](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/rub/) · [撲](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/slap/) · [絞](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/squeeze/) · [揚](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/hoist/) · [覆](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/overturn/) · [抽](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/draw-out/) · [据](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/set-in-place/)

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