Elder in Japanese
"elder" in Japanese, with the kanji that carry the meaning.
3 Japanese kanji carry the meaning "elder". The most common choice is shown first.
兄View details →
Top pick
elder brother, big brother
Reading: kei
5 strokes
Where it comes from
Composed of mouth and person. Elder who commands with words.
What it carries
Elder brother, senior, honorific. Reflects Confucian hierarchy.
Related kanji for "elder"
姉Details →昆Details →
elder sister(also: )
shi
Composed of woman and market. Elder woman working at market.
elder brother(also: descendants, insect)
kon · nature
Composed of sun and compare. Comparing to sun.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Japanese kanji for elder?
The most common kanji for "elder" is 兄, read as kei. It means elder brother, big brother. Related kanji: 姉 (elder sister), 昆 (elder brother).
How many strokes does 兄 have?
兄 has 5 strokes.