筋

• Reading: すじ
• Romaji: suji
• Kanji breakdown: 筋 (kin/suji) — muscle, sinew, line, plot
• Pronunciation: /sɯ.dʑi/

Meaning

Muscle; sinew; line; thread; plot or storyline. A versatile word with many related senses.

A noun with a wide range of meanings centred on the idea of a thin, continuous line. Can refer to muscles (筋肉), the plot of a story (筋を話す), logical reasoning (筋が通る, 'makes sense'), lineage, or even a street. Context determines the specific meaning.

Examples

1. 運動不足で筋が痛くなった。 My muscles got sore from lack of exercise.
2. あの映画は筋がよくわからなかった。 I couldn't really follow the plot of that movie.
3. 彼の話には筋が通っている。 What he says makes logical sense.

Usage Guide

Context: health, storytelling, logic

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 筋 combines 竹 (bamboo) and 肋 (rib). The bamboo radical suggests something long and fibrous, reflecting the word's core meaning of sinew or thread-like structure.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal