JLPT N2 · 12 strokes
Kanji 筆: "writing brush, writing, painting brush"
The kanji 筆 means "writing brush, writing, painting brush, handwriting". It is written with 12 strokes and belongs to JLPT level N2, read ヒツ in on'yomi and ふで 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)
ヒツ
Kun'yomi (native Japanese reading)
ふで
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 | writing brush, writing, painting brush, handwriting |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 12 |
| JLPT level | N2 |
| Taught in Japan | grade 3 |
| Frequency rank | 1132 of 2,501 |
Common words with 筆
The most frequent words using this kanji, most common first, with furigana readings. Click one to open it in the reader.
- 筆writing brush; paintbrush; pen · writing with a brush; drawing with a brush; penmanship; something drawn with a brush
- 筆頭brush tip · first on a list
- 鉛筆(wooden) pencil
- 執筆writing; authoring
- 筆跡handwriting · calligraphy specimen; example of penmanship; holograph
- 万年筆fountain pen
- 筆者writer; author
- 特筆すべきworthy of special mention
- 筆記用具writing implement; writing tool
- 筆記writing down; taking notes; copying; noting · notes; writings
- 直筆one's own handwriting; autograph
- 筆頭とするto be led by; to be headed by
Keep going
Read real Japanese, not lists
A kanji list does not teach you to read. KanjiYome puts furigana and a dictionary on any Japanese text, offline, and turns the words you meet into review cards.