糸 means thread. Follow it from sewing to the figurative starting point of a solution.
The idea
糸 has six strokes; use the linked diagram for their order. Read 糸（いと）, 毛糸（けいと） and 糸口（いとぐち） as whole words.
Examples
- 針に糸を通します。I thread the needle.
- 赤い糸でボタンを縫います。I sew on a button with red thread.
- この糸は細くて切れやすいです。This thread is thin and breaks easily.
- 母は毛糸で帽子を編みます。My mother knits a hat with yarn.
- 糸口を見つけて問題を解決します。I find a clue and solve the problem.
- 糸電話で友達と話します。I talk with a friend using a string telephone.
Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.
No Japanese device voice is available. You can still read the text and use the linked listening resources.
Watch out
糸口 can mean a clue or opening toward a solution, not just the end of a thread. 毛糸 is yarn, not any sewing thread.
Try it yourself
Write the reading of 糸 in hiragana.
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いと
糸 is いと: thread, as in threading a needle.
Write the reading of 毛糸 in hiragana.
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けいと
毛糸 is けいと: yarn used, for example, to knit a hat.
Choose the missing kanji: ＿口（いとぐち）［糸／紙］.
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糸
糸 completes 糸口（いとぐち）, a clue or starting point for solving a problem.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
Write the reading of 糸 in hiragana.
Write the reading of 毛糸 in hiragana.
Choose the missing kanji: ＿口（いとぐち）［糸／紙］.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Write 糸 following the diagram. Cover the readings and say 糸 and 毛糸, then make a sentence with 糸口.