兵: the kanji for soldier
兵 is a JLPT N2 kanji that means soldier. Below are its readings, 5 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
兵 is written in 7 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
兵 has 2 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).
ヘイ (hei)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 兵士へいし · heishi | soldier |
| 兵器へいき · heiki | weapon |
| 兵隊へいたい · heitai | soldier; troops |
ヒョウ (hyou)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 兵糧ひょうろう · hyōrō | army provisions |
| 兵庫県ひょうごけん · Hyōgo-ken | Hyogo Prefecture |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 祖父は若い頃、兵士として戦争に行った。Sofu wa wakai koro, heishi to shite sensō ni itta.When he was young, my grandfather went to war as a soldier.
- 核兵器のない世界を目指している。Kakuheiki no nai sekai o mezashite iru.We aim for a world without nuclear weapons.
- 兵庫県の神戸に住んでいる。Hyōgo-ken no Kōbe ni sunde iru.I live in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture.
- 昔の戦いでは兵糧が大切だった。Mukashi no tatakai de wa hyōrō ga taisetsu datta.In old battles, army provisions were important.
- おもちゃの兵隊を並べて遊んだ。Omocha no heitai o narabete asonda.I played by lining up toy soldiers.
Questions about 兵
How many strokes does 兵 have?
兵 is written in 7 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 兵?
The on readings are hei (ヘイ), hyou (ヒョウ). 兵 has no kun reading in the Jōyō Kanji Table.
What JLPT level is 兵?
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
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 兵
- 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.