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Kanji 兼: meanings, readings, and example words.

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Kanji 兼: concurrently, and, beforehand, in advance

Key takeaways

Kanji 兼: concurrently, and, beforehand, in advance. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

N1

Meaning

concurrentlyandbeforehandin advance

On reading

ケン

Kun reading

か.ねる-か.ねる

Radical

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 兼

concurrently, and, beforehand, in advance

Kanji structure breakdown

Structure breakdown

八 + ⺕ + 丨

Mnemonic story

Mnemonic story

This kanji depicts holding eight (八) items together with a hand (⺕) along a single line (丨). It represents doing multiple things 'concurrently' or combining roles, as seen in words for holding concurrent positions.

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

ケン
  • 兼業けんぎょう

    side job / second business

  • 兼用けんよう

    combined use / serving two purposes

Kun reading

か.ねる
  • 兼ねるかねる

    to hold/serve as / to find difficult to

Commonly used words

  • 兼業
    けんぎょう

    side job / second business

  • 兼用
    けんよう

    combined use / serving two purposes

  • 兼ねる
    かねる

    to hold/serve as / to find difficult to

Example sentences

Example 1

かねて準備していた資料を使った。

Translation

I used the materials I had prepared in advance.

Example 2

かねてからの夢がかなった。

Translation

My long-held dream came true.

Example 3

友達に気ねして相談できない。

Translation

I hesitate to consult my friend.

Example 4

ご近所に気ねして大きな声を出せない。

Translation

I can't speak loudly because I feel constrained by my neighbors.

Kanji 兼: concurrently, and, beforehand, in advance | Daily Nihongo