Kanji N1

兼: concurrently, and, beforehand

兼 is a JLPT N1 kanji meaning concurrently, and, beforehand, written with 10 strokes. It is read ケン (on) and かねる (kun). It is one of the jōyō kanji taught in secondary school. You will see it in 兼ねる (かねる, to be unable to) and 兼業 (けんぎょう, pursuing as a side business).

兼

Meanings

  • concurrently
  • and
  • beforehand
  • in advance
Strokes10
JLPT levelN1
School gradeSecondary school
Frequency#1164 of 2,500

On reading · Kun reading

On reading
  • ケン

On'yomi: from Chinese, written in katakana. Used in compound words.

Kun reading
  • かねる
  • -かねる

Kun'yomi: native Japanese, in hiragana. The faint part is the okurigana, written in kana after the kanji.

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Common words with 兼

The most useful words written with it, easiest first. Every other kanji in them opens its own page.

  • 兼ねるかねる

    to be unable to

    JLPT N2
  • 兼業けんぎょう

    pursuing as a side business

    JLPT N1
  • 兼用けんよう

    multi-use; combined use; combination

    JLPT N1
  • 兼ねてかねて

    previously; already; for some time

    JLPT N1
  • 気兼ねきがね

    constraint; reserve; feeling hesitant

    JLPT N1
  • 兼けん

    and (concurrently; e.g. chauffeur and secretary)

  • 兼務けんむ

    serving concurrently as

  • 兼任けんにん

    serving concurrently as

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Stroke order from KanjiVG © Ulrich Apel, CC BY-SA 3.0. Readings, meanings and words from KANJIDIC2 and JMdict, names from JMnedict, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA 4.0, and Wikidata, CC0. JLPT lists after Jonathan Waller (tanos.co.uk), CC BY.