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KŌ
綱
hawser · class (genus) · rope
✎ Editor's glossa rope; to govern — the linchpin of things
Naruto · Characters · Kanji file 031
Tsunade 綱手
Pronounced tsu·na·de
In the Edo-period tale Jiraiya Gōketsu Monogatari, the hero Jiraiya appears with his wife Tsunade and his nemesis Orochimaru — the trio widely held to be the models for Naruto's Legendary Sannin. In that tale, Tsunade commands slugs, and her master is the Slug Sage — Katsuyu Sennin (蛞蝓仙人). In Naruto she is one of the Legendary Sannin, commands slugs, and summons Katsuyu: details that trace straight back to the old tale. Her monstrous strength and her love of gambling, though, are surely the author's own invention — and that character writes itself into the story.
From Edo-period fiction
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Breaking down the kanji
Here's what each character means — and how to write it. In Japan, following the correct stroke order is considered the key to writing kanji beautifully. Readings, stroke counts and core meanings below come directly from the KANJIDIC2 dictionary database. The red ✎ line is the editor's gloss — the meaning that is actually alive in this name, chosen by our editors from a Japanese kanji dictionary.
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SHU
手
hand
✎ Editor's glosshand
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Original artwork — free to save
The kanji, on one sheet
A reference card we drew ourselves — the characters in Japanese brush style.
Quick answers
FAQ
How many strokes is 綱手?
18 in total: 綱 is 14, 手 is 4.
How do you pronounce Tsunade?
Say it tsu·na·de (綱手). Japanese has no strong word stress: give each syllable about the same length and weight, and keep the vowels short and clear — a as in “father,” i as in “machine,” u as in “food,” e as in “met,” o as in “go.”
What characters make up Tsunade?
綱手 — 綱, then 手. Core meanings from the KANJIDIC2 dictionary database: 綱 hawser · class (genus); 手 hand.
Can I use the copied kanji anywhere?
Yes — it's standard Unicode text and works on any modern OS. One caution before you print or ink it: make sure the font is a Japanese one. Some fonts render the same characters in Chinese style, and the difference shows.