How to Write 兼 (concurrently, and, beforehand, in advance) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 10-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 兼 (“concurrently, and, beforehand, in advance”), indexed under the 八 (はち (eight)) radical. Practice 兼 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 兼ねる (かねる (kaneru) — concurrently), 兼ねる (かねる (kaneru) — concurrently).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (兼)
Primary Radical (部首): 八 — はち (eight)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 八
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ケン) when 兼 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (か.ねる, -か.ねる) when 兼 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (10画): Written with 10 strokes, 兼 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 八 (はち (eight)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 八 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 8 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 八 (はち (eight))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 10 strokes under radical 八.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 兼
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 兼 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 兼 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 兼 ("concurrently, and, beforehand, in advance") is written with 10 strokes (10画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 八 (はち (eight)) radical. Written with 10 strokes, 兼 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 八 (はち (eight)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 八 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 8 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 兼?
For 兼 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ケン and the Kunyomi is か.ねる, -か.ねる. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ケン) when 兼 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (か.ねる, -か.ねる) when 兼 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 兼 includes 兼ねる (かねる (kaneru) — concurrently), 兼ねる (かねる (kaneru) — concurrently).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 兼 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 10 strokes of 兼 (concurrently, and, beforehand, in advance), start with the 八 (はち (eight)) in the Standalone / Integrated (部首) position and follow standard Japanese Hitsujun (筆順) principles: top to bottom (上から下) and left to right (左から右). Practice 兼 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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