熊: the kanji for bear
熊 is a JLPT N1 kanji that means bear. Below are its readings, 2 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
熊 is written in 14 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
熊 has 1 reading in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 2 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
くま (kuma)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 熊くま · kuma | bear |
| 白熊しろくま · shirokuma | polar bear |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 山で熊に注意してください。Yama de kuma ni chūi shite kudasai.Watch out for bears in the mountains.
- 動物園で白熊を見た。Dōbutsuen de shirokuma o mita.I saw a polar bear at the zoo.
- 熊本は九州にある。Kumamoto wa Kyūshū ni aru.Kumamoto is in Kyushu.
- 熊は冬の間眠っている。Kuma wa fuyu no aida nemutte iru.Bears sleep through the winter.
- 熊よけの鈴をつけて山に登った。Kumayoke no suzu o tsukete yama ni nobotta.I climbed the mountain wearing a bear bell.
Questions about 熊
How many strokes does 熊 have?
熊 is written in 14 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 熊?
熊 has no on reading in the Jōyō Kanji Table. The kun readings are kuma (くま).
What JLPT level is 熊?
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
Nature, weather and animals
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 熊
- 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.