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N4 kanji · 7 strokes

弟 means younger brother

弟Real origin

It began as a cord wound in order around a stick: the younger brother, who comes next.

Real origin: where the kanji comes from, as far as scholars agree.

Meaning and readings

Meanings
younger brother, faithful service to elders
JLPT level
N4
Strokes
7
School grade
Grade 2 in Japan
Japanese (kunyomi) おとうと otouto

おとうと (otouto) is the Japanese word for this kanji. You use it when the kanji stands alone or has kana after it. Dictionaries call this the kun reading.

From Chinese (onyomi) テイ tei

テイ (tei) came from Chinese with the character. You mostly hear it in words made of several kanji. Dictionaries call this the on reading.

Other readings from Chinese: ダイ dai, デ de

Tap a reading to see when it's used. Why kanji have two kinds of reading: onyomi vs kunyomi.

Common word

兄弟 きょうだい · kyoudai

brothers and sisters, siblings

Built from

Tap a part to see the N5 and N4 kanji that use it.