# 緊 — Tense

Frequency rank 978 / 2,608 in published Japanese.

Mid-frequency: not on every page, but regular in books and magazines.

More common than 幹 (Tree Trunk), less common than 柄 (Pattern).

- On’yomi: きん
- Kun’yomi: —
- Radical: 糸 Silk (Kangxi 120)
- Frequency path: Level VIII of XX

A servant on top holds a mouth shut while thread is pulled tight below -- a servant threading a mouth closed makes everything tense.

In words:

- 緊張 きんちょう — tension,mental strain,nervousness
- 緊急 きんきゅう — urgent;pressing;emergency

[Study 緊](https://app.kanjidrift.com/study?kanji=%E7%B7%8A)

[← Rank 977: 柄 (Pattern)](https://kanjidrift.com/frequency/柄.md) · [Rank 979: 幹 (Tree Trunk) →](https://kanjidrift.com/frequency/幹.md)

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