Meaning
徐 means slow, gradual, and leisurely. It describes movement or change at a measured, unhurried pace — neither rushed nor abrupt. Physical movement, temporal processes, and medical terminology all draw on this kanji. A slow pulse, a gradual economic recovery, a train easing into a station: 徐 is the thread connecting them.
The character is built from two parts. On the left is 彳 (chi), the step radical — a partial footprint signaling movement. On the right sits 余, meaning surplus or remainder. Together they sketch a figure moving with something held in reserve: unhurried, with time to spare. Not rushing forward, but deliberately holding back.
徐 almost always appears inside compound words rather than standing alone in modern Japanese. It has 10 strokes and belongs to the general-use list (常用漢字, jōyō kanji), though it carries no assigned elementary school grade. Its Hán-Việt reading is TỪ — the same root heard in the Vietnamese từ từ (slowly, gently), a natural bridge for Vietnamese learners.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
ジョ (jo) is the only on'yomi and shows up in virtually every compound containing this kanji. It reflects the original Sino-Japanese pronunciation, appearing on traffic signs, in medical reports, and in everyday conversation alike.
- 徐行 (jokō) — proceeding at reduced speed; slow movement of vehicles or trains
- 徐々 (jojo) — gradual progression; little by little, step by step
- 徐脈 (jomyaku) — bradycardia; an abnormally slow pulse rate (medical term)
ジョ generates a wide range of formal and technical compounds. 徐行 is arguably the most useful in daily life — it appears on road signs and in train announcements whenever vehicles need to reduce speed near crossings, construction zones, or station platforms.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
おもむろに (omomuro ni) is a classical adverb meaning slowly, deliberately, calmly. It describes not just what happens, but how something begins — with measured composure rather than haste. Rare in casual speech, it appears in formal prose and literature, lending a quiet dignity to whatever verb it precedes.
- 徐に立ち上がる (omomuro ni tachiagaru) — to rise slowly and deliberately from one's seat
- 徐に口を開く (omomuro ni kuchi wo hiraku) — to begin speaking slowly and calmly
Note that おもむろに is typically written in hiragana in modern Japanese. The kanji form 徐に appears mainly in literary or classical texts and may feel archaic to modern readers.
Common Words & Compounds
Movement & Speed:
- 徐行 (jokō) — slow movement; reduced-speed travel, seen on traffic and railway signs
- 徐行運転 (jokō unten) — slow driving; operating a vehicle at reduced speed
- 徐行区間 (jokō kukan) — slow-speed zone; a section of road or track requiring reduced speed
Gradual Change:
- 徐々に (jojo ni) — gradually, little by little; the most common phrase using this kanji
- 徐々 (jojo) — gradual progression; used as an adverbial or descriptive term
Medical & Scientific:
- 徐脈 (jomyaku) — bradycardia; a heart rate typically below 60 beats per minute
- 徐放 (johō) — slow release; used in pharmaceuticals (sustained-release tablets) and agriculture (slow-release fertilizer)
- 徐冷 (jorei) — slow cooling; a metallurgy and materials science term for controlled gradual cooling
Literary & Formal:
- 徐に (omomuro ni) — slowly and deliberately; a literary adverb for calm, measured action
- 徐々として (jojo to shite) — in a slow and steady manner; formal expression for gradual progression
Example Sentences
この道路では徐行してください。
Kono dōro de wa jokō shite kudasai.
Please drive slowly on this road.
経済は徐々に回復しています。
Keizai wa jojo ni kaifuku shite imasu.
The economy is gradually recovering.
その老人は徐に立ち上がった。
Sono rōjin wa omomuro ni tachiagatta.
The old man slowly and deliberately stood up.
電車は駅に近づくにつれて徐行した。
Densha wa eki ni chikadzuku ni tsurete jokō shita.
The train slowed down as it approached the station.
患者の症状は徐々に改善されました。
Kanja no shōjō wa jojo ni kaizen saremashita.
The patient's symptoms gradually improved.
彼女は徐に口を開いて話し始めた。
Kanojo wa omomuro ni kuchi wo hiraite hanashi hajimeta.
She slowly and calmly opened her mouth and began to speak.
徐脈は心臓の病気のサインである場合があります。
Jomyaku wa shinzō no byōki no sain de aru baai ga arimasu.
Bradycardia can sometimes be a sign of heart disease.
日本語の上達は徐々にですが、着実に進んでいます。
Nihongo no jōtatsu wa jojo ni desu ga, chakujitsu ni susunde imasu.
My Japanese progress is gradual, but it is advancing steadily.
工事のため、この区間は徐行区間となっています。
Kōji no tame, kono kukan wa jokō kukan to natte imasu.
Due to construction, this section has been designated as a slow-speed zone.
春になると、気温が徐々に上がり始める。
Haru ni naru to, kion ga jojo ni agari hajimeru.
When spring arrives, the temperature gradually begins to rise.
Memory Tip
Picture 彳 on the left as cautious half-steps — someone moving one foot at a time. On the right, 余 means surplus: extra time, extra patience, a quiet reserve of calm. Together they form a figure taking careful steps because there is no destination to rush toward. When you spot those small footsteps paired with that surplus, think: this character moves entirely at its own pace.