謙: the kanji for humble; modest
謙 is a JLPT N1 kanji that means humble; modest. Below are its readings, 3 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
謙 is written in 17 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
謙 has 1 reading in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 3 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ケン (ken)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 謙虚けんきょ · kenkyo | modest; humble |
| 謙遜けんそん · kenson | modesty |
| 謙譲語けんじょうご · kenjōgo | humble language |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 彼はいつも謙虚だ。Kare wa itsumo kenkyo da.He is always modest.
- 日本人はよく謙遜する。Nihonjin wa yoku kenson suru.Japanese people often speak modestly of themselves.
- 謙譲語の使い方を学んだ。Kenjōgo no tsukaikata o mananda.I learned how to use humble language.
- 成功しても謙虚な気持ちを忘れない。Seikō shite mo kenkyo na kimochi o wasurenai.Even when successful, I stay humble.
- 「まだまだです」と彼女は謙遜した。"Madamada desu" to kanojo wa kenson shita."I still have a long way to go," she said modestly.
Questions about 謙
How many strokes does 謙 have?
謙 is written in 17 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 謙?
The on readings are ken (ケン). 謙 has no kun reading in the Jōyō Kanji Table.
What JLPT level is 謙?
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
Feelings and emotions
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 謙
- 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.