剣: the kanji for sword
剣 is a JLPT N1 kanji that means sword. Below are its readings, 4 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
剣 is written in 10 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
剣 has 2 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 4 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ケン (ken)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 剣道けんどう · kendō | kendo |
| 真剣しんけん · shinken | serious; real sword |
| 刀剣とうけん · tōken | swords |
つるぎ (tsurugi)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 剣つるぎ · tsurugi | sword |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 弟は剣道を習っている。Otōto wa kendō o naratte iru.My younger brother is learning kendo.
- 真剣に話を聞いてください。Shinken ni hanashi o kiite kudasai.Please listen seriously.
- 博物館で古い刀剣を見た。Hakubutsukan de furui tōken o mita.I saw old swords at the museum.
- 神話に不思議な剣が出てくる。Shinwa ni fushigi na tsurugi ga dete kuru.A mysterious sword appears in the myth.
- この薬はもろ刃の剣だ。Kono kusuri wa moroha no tsurugi da.This medicine is a double-edged sword.
Questions about 剣
How many strokes does 剣 have?
剣 is written in 10 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 剣?
The on readings are ken (ケン). The kun readings are tsurugi (つるぎ).
What JLPT level is 剣?
N1. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N1 is designed to match the former Level 1.
More JLPT N1 kanji
Government, rules and society
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 剣
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.