章

• Reading: しょう
• Romaji: shou
• Kanji breakdown: 章 (shou) — chapter, section, badge
• Pronunciation: /ɕoː/

Meaning

Chapter; section. A division of a book or document. Also means a medal or badge.

A noun with two main meanings. In writing, it refers to a chapter or section of a book (第一章 = Chapter 1). In a different context, it means a badge or medal, as in 勲章 (medal of honour). As a counter/suffix for chapters, it is extremely common in academic and literary contexts.

Examples

1. この本の第三章がとても面白い。 Chapter three of this book is really interesting.
2. 論文を五つの章に分けて書いた。 I divided the thesis into five chapters.
3. 彼は勲章をもらったことがある。 He has received a medal of honor before.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, academics, awards

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 章 originally depicted a tattoo needle decorating the body, evolving to mean a decorative mark or pattern, and then a structured section of writing.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Educated