Readings: ヒ (Onyomi), かれ, かの (Kunyomi)
Meaning: he, him, boyfriend; that (one)
The kanji 彼 combines 彳 (gyōninben, “stride” or “go,” signifying movement or distance) and 皮 (kawa, “skin,” “hide,” also implying something external or peeled away). Together, it suggests “that person” or “that thing over there,” indicating distance or separation.
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The stroke order for 彼 begins with the left radical 彳 (gyouninben), written in three strokes. This is followed by the right component 皮, which is written in seven strokes, starting with the long vertical stroke.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 彳 (ぎょうにんばん) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 10 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | S (Jouyou Kanji) |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ヒ (HI)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- かれ (kare)
- かの (kano)
Common Words Using 彼
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 彼岸 | ひがん | the equinoctial week (spring and autumn) |
| 彼我 | ひが | us and them, each other |
| 彼岸会 | ひがんえ | Higan service/ceremony |
| 彼岸桜 | ひがんざくら | Higan cherry tree |
| 彼岸花 | ひがんばな | red spider lily |
| 彼方 | ひほう | that direction, there (less common Onyomi reading for this compound) |
| 彼等 | ひら | they (archaic, literary) |
| 彼所 | ひしょ | that place (archaic, literary) |
| 彼界 | ひかい | the other world (Buddhist term) |
| 彼人 | ひびと | that person (archaic, literary) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 彼 | かれ | he, him, boyfriend |
| 彼女 | かのじょ | she, her, girlfriend |
| 彼ら | かれら | they, them |
| 彼氏 | かれし | boyfriend |
| 彼方 | かなた | beyond, yonder, that side, over there |
| 彼の人 | かのひと | that person |
| 彼の日 | かのひ | that day |
| 彼の家 | かのいえ | that house/home |
| 彼の地 | かのち | that place |
| 彼自身 | かれじしん | he himself / himself |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 彼は私の兄です。
Kana: かれはわたしのあにです。
Romaji: Kare wa watashi no ani desu.
English: He is my older brother.
Japanese: 彼女は図書館で本を読んでいます。
Kana: かのじょはとしょかんでほんをよんでいます。
Romaji: Kanojo wa toshokan de hon o yonde imasu.
English: She is reading a book at the library.
Japanese: 彼らは公園でサッカーをしています。
Kana: かれらはこうえんでサッカーをしています。
Romaji: Karera wa kouen de sakkaa o shite imasu.
English: They are playing soccer in the park.
Japanese: 私の彼氏は来月、海外へ出張します。
Kana: わたしのかれしはらいげつ、かいがいへしゅっちょうします。
Romaji: Watashi no kareshi wa raigetsu, kaigai e shucchou shimasu.
English: My boyfriend will go on a business trip overseas next month.
Japanese: 彼方に見えるのは富士山です。
Kana: かなたにみえるのはふじさんです。
Romaji: Kanata ni mieru no wa Fujisan desu.
English: What you see over there is Mt. Fuji.
Japanese: お彼岸には家族でお墓参りに行きます。
Kana: おひがんにはかぞくでおはかまいりにいきます。
Romaji: O-higan ni wa kazoku de ohaka-mairi ni ikimasu.
English: We go to visit graves with our family during Higan.
Japanese: 彼の日に向けて準備を進めています。
Kana: かのひにむけてじゅんびをすすめています。
Romaji: Kano hi ni mukete junbi o susumete imasu.
English: We are proceeding with preparations for that day.
Japanese: 彼と彼女は高校の同級生です。
Kana: かれとかのじょはこうこうのどうきゅうせいです。
Romaji: Kare to kanojo wa koukou no doukyuusei desu.
English: He and she are high school classmates.
Japanese: 彼の意見に耳を傾けましょう。
Kana: かれのいけんにみみをかたむけましょう。
Romaji: Kare no iken ni mimi o katamukemashou.
English: Let’s listen to his opinion.
Japanese: 彼らはいつも助け合っています。
Kana: かれらはいつもたすけあっています。
Romaji: Karera wa itsumo tasukeatte imasu.
English: They always help each other.
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