兄
elder brother · big brother
Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
mouth + 儿
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of mouth and person. Elder who commands with words.
Symbolism
Elder brother, senior, honorific. Reflects Confucian hierarchy.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Great presence
Anime & Manga
鬼滅の刃
Demon Slayer(2016)
Story of Tanjiro fighting demons to protect his sister as an 'older brother.'
View on Amazon →Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
四海兄弟
しかいけいてい
people in the whole world being all brothers; universal brotherhood; people in the whole world being all brothers
Proverbs & Idioms
兄弟は他人の始まり
きょうだいはたにんのはじまり
Siblings are the beginning of strangers
Even brothers may grow apart as adults
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 兄 mean in Japanese?
兄 means elder brother, big brother.
How do you read 兄?
On'yomi: ケイ、キョウ (KEI, KYOU). Kun'yomi: あに (ani).
How many strokes does 兄 have?
兄 has 5 strokes. Its radical is 儿 (legs).
Is 兄 a good kanji for a tattoo?
Yes. 兄 (elder brother, big brother) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.
Explore by meaning:kanji for elder brother