筆: the kanji for writing brush; writing
筆 is a JLPT N2 kanji that means writing brush; writing. Below are its readings, 6 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
筆 is written in 12 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
筆 has 2 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 6 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ヒツ (hitsu)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 筆者ひっしゃ · hissha | writer; author |
| 鉛筆えんぴつ · enpitsu | pencil |
| 筆記ひっき · hikki | writing; taking notes |
| 随筆ずいひつ · zuihitsu | essay |
ふで (fude)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 筆ふで · fude | writing brush |
| 筆箱ふでばこ · fudebako | pencil case |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 鉛筆で名前を書いてください。Enpitsu de namae o kaite kudasai.Please write your name in pencil.
- 筆者の考えを二百字でまとめなさい。Hissha no kangae o nihyakuji de matomenasai.Summarize the writer's ideas in two hundred characters.
- 午前は筆記試験、午後は面接です。Gozen wa hikki shiken, gogo wa mensetsu desu.There is a written test in the morning and an interview in the afternoon.
- お正月に筆で字を書いた。Oshōgatsu ni fude de ji o kaita.I wrote characters with a brush at New Year.
- 子どもの筆箱に新しい消しゴムを入れた。Kodomo no fudebako ni atarashii keshigomu o ireta.I put a new eraser in my child's pencil case.
Questions about 筆
How many strokes does 筆 have?
筆 is written in 12 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 筆?
The on readings are hitsu (ヒツ). The kun readings are fude (ふで).
What JLPT level is 筆?
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
Study, language and culture
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 筆
- 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.