節(せつ)

せつ

noun, suffix

section; season; occasion; moderation

See also: 節(ふし) (joint, knot, melody)

1. section; clause; paragraph; verse

A division or subdivision of a text, document, or speech. Used for chapters in academic writing, verses in music or poetry, and sections of legal documents.

第(だい)三章(さんしょう)第(だい)二節(にせつ)を読(よ)んでください。

Please read Chapter 3, Section 2.

この歌(うた)は三(さん)節(せつ)ある。

This song has three verses.

論文(ろんぶん)の各(かく)節(せつ)にまとめを付(つ)けた。

I added a summary to each section of the paper.

2. season; time; occasion

A particular time or season. Appears in compounds related to seasonal divisions and occasions.

季節(きせつ)の変(か)わり目(め)に体調(たいちょう)を崩(くず)しやすい。

It's easy to get sick at the change of seasons.

節分(せつぶん)に豆(まめ)をまく。

Throw beans on Setsubun.

節目(ふしめ)の年(とし)を迎(むか)えた。

I've reached a milestone year.

3. moderation; restraint; propriety

Self-control or moderation in behavior. Used in expressions about maintaining proper boundaries.

節度(せつど)ある行動(こうどう)を心(こころ)がける。

Try to act with moderation.

飲(の)み過(す)ぎないよう節制(せっせい)している。

I'm exercising restraint so as not to drink too much.

何事(なにごと)も節度(せつど)が大切(たいせつ)で、やり過(す)ぎは禁物(きんもつ)だ。

Moderation is important in everything — going overboard is a no-no.

A highly versatile kanji with meanings spanning textual divisions, seasonal markers, and moderation. The reading せつ (on'yomi) is used in compounds; the kun'yomi ふし is a separate entry.

COMPOUNDS (section/text):

章節(しょうせつ) — chapters and sections
条節(じょうせつ) — clauses and sections

COMPOUNDS (season/time):

季節(きせつ) — season
節分(せつぶん) — Setsubun (Feb. 3, bean-throwing festival)
節気(せっき) — solar term

COMPOUNDS (moderation):

節度(せつど) — moderation, propriety
節制(せっせい) — temperance, self-restraint
節約(せつやく) — economizing, saving
節電(せつでん) — power saving
節水(せっすい) — water conservation

Watch out

Read ふし, the same kanji is a different word: 節(ふし) (joint; knot; melody; point).

Related Words

Related: 節(ふし) (same kanji, different reading)

Compare: 章(しょう) (chapter)

Compare: 章句(しょうく) (chapters and verses)

general

Added 2026.3.25 19:16 · Revised 2026.10.19 21:30

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