鯨: the kanji for whale
鯨 is a JLPT N1 kanji that means whale. Below are its readings, 2 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
鯨 is written in 19 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
鯨 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).
ゲイ (gei)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 捕鯨ほげい · hogei | whaling |
くじら (kujira)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 鯨くじら · kujira | whale |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 船から鯨が見えた。Fune kara kujira ga mieta.We saw a whale from the boat.
- 捕鯨について国際会議で話し合われた。Hogei ni tsuite kokusai kaigi de hanashiawareta.Whaling was discussed at an international conference.
- …鯨は魚ではなく哺乳類だ。Kujira wa sakana de wa naku honyūrui da.Whales are mammals, not fish.
- 昔この町は捕鯨で栄えた。Mukashi kono machi wa hogei de sakaeta.This town once prospered from whaling.
- 大きな鯨が海面に姿を見せた。Ōki na kujira ga kaimen ni sugata o miseta.A huge whale appeared at the surface.
Questions about 鯨
How many strokes does 鯨 have?
鯨 is written in 19 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 鯨?
The on readings are gei (ゲイ). The kun readings are kujira (くじら).
What JLPT level is 鯨?
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
Nature, weather and animals
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 鯨
- 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.