糸

• Reading: いと
• Romaji: ito
• Kanji breakdown: 糸 (shi/ito) — thread, string
• Pronunciation: /i.to/

Meaning

Thread; string; yarn. A thin strand of fibre used for sewing, weaving, or crafting.

Refers to any thin fibre strand, whether for sewing (縫い糸), knitting (毛糸), or traditional crafts. The kanji 糸 is also a radical (糸偏) appearing in many textile and fabric-related characters like 紙, 絵, 組, and 線. In literary contexts, 糸 can metaphorically refer to connections or thin links between things.

Examples

1. ボタンが取れたので糸と針が必要です。 A button came off, so I need thread and a needle.
2. 赤い糸で名前をぬいました。 I embroidered a name with red thread.
3. この糸はとても丈夫で切れにくい。 This thread is very strong and hard to break.

Usage Guide

Context: sewing, crafts, textiles

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 糸 is a pictograph depicting twisted strands of silk thread. One of the oldest kanji, reflecting the importance of textile production in ancient East Asian civilisation.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal