袖 means “sleeve”

そで · sode

Also: wing (building), extension, give cold shoulder

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

そで

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

シュウ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 10 strokes

The story

Clothing (衤) beside 由, a cause or source: the part of a garment your arm comes out of. 袖 is a sleeve: 半袖 is short sleeves, 振袖 the long-sleeved kimono worn on Coming of Age Day, and 袖の下, under the sleeve, is a bribe.

Used in 半袖 (hansode, short sleeves), 長袖 (nagasode, long sleeves), and 振袖 (furisode, long-sleeved kimono)

More from Silk & Sleeves

• 襟 collar
• 蚕 silkworm
• 裾 hem
• 繭 cocoon
• 巾 cloth
• 織 weave
• 脱 take off
• 麻 hemp
• 錦 brocade
• 繊 fiber
• 履 put on (shoes)
• 縫 sew

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