JLPT N1 · 8 strokes
Kanji 弦: "bowstring, chord, hypotenuse"
The kanji 弦 means "bowstring, chord, hypotenuse". It is written with 8 strokes and belongs to JLPT level N1, read ゲン in on'yomi and つる in kun'yomi.
Stroke order
Strokes are written in the order of the numbers. The order is not decorative: it is what gives the character its balance, and it is also how handwriting search works in Japanese dictionaries.
Readings
On'yomi (Sino-Japanese reading)
ゲン
Kun'yomi (native Japanese reading)
つる
In a kun'yomi reading, the dot separates the kanji from its okurigana: かた.る is read かたる and written 語る. A hyphen marks a bound position, like -び in 日.
At a glance
| Meaning | bowstring, chord, hypotenuse |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 8 |
| JLPT level | N1 |
| Taught in Japan | secondary school |
| Frequency rank | 1773 of 2,501 |
Common words with 弦
The most frequent words using this kanji, most common first, with furigana readings. Click one to open it in the reader.
- 弦bowstring · string (of a shamisen, etc.); stringed instrument
- 弦bowstring · string (of shamisen, guitar, violin, etc.)
- 弦楽器string instrument; stringed instrument
- 弓弦bowstring
- 管弦楽orchestral music
- 上弦first quarter moon; waxing half-moon
- 管弦wind and string instruments; music
- 弦楽music for strings; string music
- 管弦楽団orchestra
- 余弦cosine
- 正弦sine
- 上弦の月first quarter moon; waxing half-moon
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