渋 means “astringent, understated”

しぶい · shibui

Also: hesitate, reluctant, have diarrhea

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): しぶ, しぶい, しぶる
On'yomi (Chinese reading): ジュウ, シュウ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 11 strokes

The story

Water (氵) that stops (止): picture a stream that barely flows, the sense of 渋滞, a traffic jam. 渋い is astringent, the pucker of strong tea or an unripe persimmon, and also quietly stylish: a 渋い actor or jacket has understated class.

Used in 渋い (shibui, astringent/understated), 渋滞 (juutai, traffic jam), and 渋谷 (shibuya, Shibuya)

渋 means “astringent, understated”

The story

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