JLPT N2 · 16 strokes
Kanji 賢: "intelligent, wise, wisdom"
The kanji 賢 means "intelligent, wise, wisdom, cleverness". It is written with 16 strokes and belongs to JLPT level N2, read ケン in on'yomi and かしこ.い 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)
ケン
Kun'yomi (native Japanese reading)
かしこ.い
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 | intelligent, wise, wisdom, cleverness |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 16 |
| JLPT level | N2 |
| Taught in Japan | secondary school |
| Frequency rank | 1159 of 2,501 |
Common words with 賢
The most frequent words using this kanji, most common first, with furigana readings. Click one to open it in the reader.
- 賢いwise; clever; smart · well-behaved (esp. children and pets); obedient; good
- 賢明wise; sensible; well-advised; intelligent
- 賢者wise person; sage
- 小賢しいsmart-alecky; clever-clever; cheeky; impertinent · cunning; crafty; shrewd
- 賢人wise person; virtuous person; sage · unrefined sake
- 大賢者great sage
- 賢者の石philosopher's stone
- ずる賢いdevious; cunning; sly; crafty
- 賢しいintelligent; wise; sagacious; clever · smart-alecky; cheeky
- 良妻賢母good wife and wise mother
- 賢しらimpertinent
- 賢者タイムpost-coital clarity; period after orgasm when a man is free from sexual desire and can think clearly
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