序 means “order, beginning”

じょ · jo

Also: preface, precedence

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

ついで

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ジョ

JLPT N1 · Taught in grade 5 · 7 strokes

The story

A hall (广) where people wait their turn in advance (予): 序 is order and beginnings. 順序 is sequence, 序盤 the opening stage, and 序の口, the lowest division in sumo, is how you say this is only the start.

Used in 順序 (junjo, order/sequence), 序盤 (joban, opening stage), and 序の口 (jonokuchi, just the beginning)

More from Order & Rank

• 斉 all together
• 秩 order
• 衡 balance
• 逓 relay
• 逐 pursue
• 頓 tidy
• 汰 weed out
• 率 rate
• 整 arrange
• 級 grade

Learn 序 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.