Readings: ヒツ (Onyomi), ふで (Kunyomi)
Meaning: writing brush, writing, brushstroke
The kanji 筆 (fude) is a phono-semantic compound. It combines 竹 (take – bamboo), which indicates the material of traditional writing brushes, and 聿 (itsu), which is a pictograph of a hand holding a writing brush, representing the meaning of “writing” or “brush.”
View JLPT N2 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 筆 has 12 strokes. It begins with the bamboo radical (竹) at the top, followed by the lower component. Pay close attention to the balance and flow, especially the horizontal lines and the distinctive final sweeping stroke.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 竹 (たけ) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 12 |
| JLPT Level | N2 |
| Grade | S |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ヒツ (Hitsu)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- ふで (fude)
Common Words Using 筆
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 筆記 | ひっき | writing, note-taking |
| 筆者 | ひっしゃ | writer, author |
| 鉛筆 | えんぴつ | pencil |
| 万年筆 | まんねんひつ | fountain pen |
| 筆記用具 | ひっきようぐ | writing implements |
| 筆談 | ひつだん | communicating by writing |
| 絶筆 | ぜっぴつ | last work (of an author) |
| 随筆 | ずいひつ | essay, miscellany |
| 毛筆 | もうひつ | writing brush (especially for calligraphy) |
| 直筆 | ちょくひつ | (in) one’s own hand, autograph |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 筆 | ふで | writing brush |
| 筆箱 | ふでばこ | pencil case |
| 筆先 | ふでさき | brush tip |
| 筆を取る | ふでをとる | to take up a brush, to start writing |
| 筆不精 | ふでぶしょう | poor correspondent |
| 筆まめ | ふでまめ | diligent correspondent |
| 筆づかい | ふでづかい | brushwork |
| 筆おろし | ふでおろし | breaking in a new brush, first writing |
| 筆書き | ふでがき | brush writing |
| 筆跡 | ふであと | handwriting |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 彼は万年筆で手紙を書いた。
Kana: かれはまんねんひつでてがみをかいた。
Romaji: Kare wa mannenhitsu de tegami o kaita.
English: He wrote a letter with a fountain pen.
Japanese: 書道では良い筆が重要です。
Kana: しょどうではよいふでがじゅうようです。
Romaji: Shodou de wa yoi fude ga juuyou desu.
English: A good brush is important in calligraphy.
Japanese: その作家は最近、絶筆となった。
Kana: そのさっかはさいきん、ぜっぴつとなった。
Romaji: Sono sakka wa saikin, zeppitsu to natta.
English: That author recently produced their last work.
Japanese: 試験では鉛筆と消しゴムが必要です。
Kana: しけんではえんぴつとけしゴムがひつようです。
Romaji: Shiken de wa enpitsu to keshigomu ga hitsuyou desu.
English: A pencil and eraser are necessary for the exam.
Japanese: 会議の内容を筆記した。
Kana: かいぎのないようをひっきした。
Romaji: Kaigi no naiyou o hikki shita.
English: I took notes on the meeting’s content.
Japanese: 筆談で意思疎通を図った。
Kana: ひつだんでいしそつうをはかった。
Romaji: Hitsudan de ishi sotsuu o hakatta.
English: We communicated by writing.
Japanese: 彼の筆跡はとても特徴的だ。
Kana: かれのふであとはとてもとくちょうてきだ。
Romaji: Kare no fudeato wa totemo tokuchouteki da.
English: His handwriting is very distinctive.
Japanese: 絵を描くために新しい筆を買った。
Kana: えをかくためにあたらしいふでをかった。
Romaji: E o kaku tame ni atarashii fude o katta.
English: I bought a new brush to draw a picture.
Japanese: この随筆集はとても面白い。
Kana: このずいひつしゅうはとてもおもしろい。
Romaji: Kono zuihitsu shuu wa totemo omoshiroi.
English: This collection of essays is very interesting.
Japanese: 彼女は筆まめなので、よく手紙をくれる。
Kana: かのじょはふでまめなので、よくてがみをくれる。
Romaji: Kanojo wa fudemame nano de, yoku tegami o kureru.
English: She’s a diligent correspondent, so she often sends letters.
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