賢: the kanji for wise; clever
賢 is a JLPT N2 kanji that means wise; clever. Below are its readings, 2 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
賢 is written in 16 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
賢 has 2 readings 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).
ケン (ken)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 賢明けんめい · kenmei | wise; sensible |
かしこい (kashikoi)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 賢いかしこい · kashikoi | clever; wise |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- この犬はとても賢い。Kono inu wa totemo kashikoi.This dog is very clever.
- 今は待つのが賢明だ。Ima wa matsu no ga kenmei da.It is wise to wait for now.
- 賢いお金の使い方を学びたい。Kashikoi okane no tsukaikata o manabitai.I want to learn how to spend money wisely.
- 無理をしないのが賢明な判断だ。Muri o shinai no ga kenmei na handan da.Not overdoing it is a sensible decision.
- カラスは賢い鳥だと言われている。Karasu wa kashikoi tori da to iwarete iru.Crows are said to be clever birds.
Questions about 賢
How many strokes does 賢 have?
賢 is written in 16 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 賢?
The on readings are ken (ケン). The kun readings are kashikoi (かしこい).
What JLPT level is 賢?
N2. 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 N2 is designed to match the former Level 2.
More JLPT N2 kanji
Qualities and conditions
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 賢
- 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.