This site will be taken down March 31st, 2026.

This was not an easy decision to make. For the last couple years, I have been struggling to find motivation for this site and to keep up with basic maintenance and security updates. With the rise of AI and more sophisticated tools, the usefulness of sites like this is questionable and traffic has nose-dived. I just don't have it in me to keep doing this. Thank you all for 10 years of support!

Zach

Readings

Kana: ケン、つるぎ
Romaji: ken, tsurugi
Kana
Romaji

Meanings

sabre, sword, blade, clock hand

Stroke Diagram

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Kanji Info

Stroke Count:  10
Radical Number:  18
Frequency:  1305
Grade:  8
Skip Pattern:  1-8-2
Korean Reading:  geom
Chinese Reading:  jian4
Unicode:  5263
JIS:  3775

Indexes

Halpern Index: 1672
Nelson Index: 696
New Nelson Index: 498
Spahn Hadamitzky Index: 2f8.5
Four Corner Index: 8250.0
Guide to Remembering Index: 1214
Gakken Index: 1248
Japanese Names Index: 1151
Daikanwanjiten Index: 2076
Daikanwanjiten Index and Page: 2.0295
Remembering the kanji Index: 1671
Kanji Flashcards Index: 1095
Kodansha Compact Index: 198
Kanji in Context Index: 791
1999 Kanji Learners Index: 1096
2013 Kanji Learners Index: 1493
French Remembering the Kanji Index: 1687
Remembering the Kanji 6th Index: 1801
Essential Kanji Index: 1436
Kodansha Kanji Index: 2104
Roo 2001 Kanji Index: 2843
Tuttle Kanji Cards Index: 1310

Words

(けん、つるぎ)
sword (originally esp. a doubled-edged sword); sabre; saber; blade; bayonet; swordsmanship; stinger; ovipositor; dart
剣術 (けんじゅつ)
fencing
真剣 (しんけん)
seriousness; earnestness; real sword (as opposed to unsharpened or wooden practice weapon)
刀剣 (とうけん)
sword; dagger; knife; bayonet
銃剣 (じゅうけん)
bayonet; guns and swords
剣道 (けんどう)
kendo; swordmanship; fencing; way of the sword
剣士 (けんし)
swordsman; swordswoman; fencer
剣客 (けんかく、けんきゃく)
fencer; swordsman
手裏剣 (しゅりけん)
shuriken; small throwing blade; small edged weapon often used for throwing; throwing star
短剣 (たんけん)
short sword; dagger; stiletto; hour hand (of a clock)
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