兄

兄 — elder brother, big brother

Learn the correct stroke order for 兄 (elder brother), a 5-stroke kanji.

JLPT N4Grade 25 strokes

Stroke Order

Stroke 0 / 5

On'yomi (音読み)ケイkei、キョウkyou

Kun'yomi (訓読み)あにani

Strokes5

Radical儿

Frequency#1219

Meaningselder brother, big brother

Step-by-Step Diagram

Try Writing It

Practice writing each stroke in the correct order and direction. Start from the green dot.

Draw stroke 1 of 5 — start from the green dot

Common Words

義兄ぎけいbrother-in-law (spouse's older brother or older sister's husband)noun

兄貴あにきelder brother; big brothernoun

兄弟きょうだいbrothers and sisters; siblingsnoun

実兄じっけいbiological older brothernoun

父兄ふけいguardians; parentsnoun

兄あにolder brother; elder brothernoun

Usage & Examples

Usage Notes

The kanji 兄 (elder brother) is taught in grade 2 of Japanese elementary school and appears at JLPT N4 level. It has 5 strokes with radical 儿.

In newspaper frequency rankings, 兄 is #1219, making it a moderately common kanji.

Example Words in Context

義兄ぎけい — brother-in-law (spouse's older brother or older sister's husband)

兄貴あにき — elder brother; big brother

兄弟きょうだい — brothers and sisters; siblings

Practice Sheet

Trace then write on your own. Print this row as a PDF practice sheet.

Related Kanji

Same radical (儿)

元beginning 先before 光ray 充allot 兆portent 児newborn babe 克overcome 免excuse

Same reading

京capital 強strong 教teach 計plot

Frequently Asked Questions

How many strokes does 兄 have?

The kanji 兄 (elder brother) has 5 strokes. Watch the animation above to see the correct order.

What is the correct stroke order for 兄?

兄 follows the standard Japanese stroke order as taught in schools. Use the step-by-step diagram or the "Try Writing" tool above to practice each stroke in sequence.

What does 兄 mean?

兄 means: elder brother, big brother. On'yomi readings: ケイ, キョウ. Kun'yomi readings: あに.

What JLPT level is 兄?

兄 is a JLPT N4 kanji. This is a beginner-level kanji.