兄: the kanji for older brother
兄 is a JLPT N4 kanji that means older brother. Below are its readings, 6 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
兄 is written in 5 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
兄 has 3 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 5 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ケイ (kei)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 父兄ふけい · fukei | parents; guardians |
| 義兄ぎけい · gikei | older brother-in-law |
キョウ (kyou)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 兄弟きょうだい · kyōdai | siblings; brothers |
あに (ani)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 兄あに · ani | older brother |
| 兄貴あにき · aniki | big brother (casual) |
Special readings to learn as whole words
These words use 兄, but their readings do not follow the readings above. The Jōyō Kanji Table lists them as special readings. Learn each one as a whole word.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| お兄さんおにいさん · oniisan | older brother (polite) |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 兄は銀行で働いています。Ani wa ginkō de hataraite imasu.My older brother works at a bank.
- お兄さんは何のお仕事をしていますか。Oniisan wa nan no o-shigoto o shite imasu ka.What does your older brother do for work?
- 三人兄弟の真ん中です。Sannin kyōdai no mannaka desu.I'm the middle of three children.
- 兄とは五歳違います。Ani to wa gosai chigaimasu.My older brother and I are five years apart.
- 兄の結婚式でスピーチをしました。Ani no kekkonshiki de supīchi o shimashita.I gave a speech at my older brother's wedding.
- 兄に仕事の相談をしました。Ani ni shigoto no sōdan o shimashita.I asked my older brother for advice about work.
Questions about 兄
How many strokes does 兄 have?
兄 is written in 5 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 兄?
The on readings are kei (ケイ), kyou (キョウ). The kun readings are ani (あに).
What is the difference between 兄 and お兄さん?
Use 兄 (ani) for your own older brother when talking to others. Use お兄さん (oniisan) for someone else's older brother, or to call your own older brother at home.
What JLPT level is 兄?
N4. 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 N4 is designed to match the former Level 3.
More JLPT N4 kanji
People and family
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 兄
- 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.