勉 — how to write the kanji for “exertion”
勉 means “exertion”, “endeavour” and “encourage”; it is a JLPT N4 kanji, taught in third grade in Japan. Japan writes it with 10 strokes, China with 9 strokes. Its common words take the reading ben: 勉強 (“study”), 勤勉 (“diligent”), 勉学 (“study”) and 勉強中 (“while studying”). Chinese reads it miǎn, “to exhort”, at HSK 6.
- Strokes
- 10
- JLPT
- N4
- Radical
- 力 (“power”)
- On
- ベン
- Kun
- つと·める
Stroke by stroke
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
Its parts sit one inside another: 免 (“excuse”), strokes 1–8; 力 (“power”, its radical), strokes 9–10, each finished before the next.
- Left-falling stroke ㇒top leftdown and left
- Horizontal then left-falling ㇇top leftrightwards → down and left
- Vertical ㇑top leftdownwards
- Horizontal-turn ㇕leftrightwards → downwards
- Vertical ㇑top leftdownwards
- Horizontal ㇐leftrightwards
- Left-falling stroke ㇒leftdown and left
- Vertical-curve-hook ㇟centerdownwards → rightwards
- Horizontal-turn-hook ㇆centerrightwards → downwards
- Left-falling stroke ㇒top rightdownwards
Japanese and Chinese
Japan writes it with 10 strokes and China with 9 strokes, and both counts match the reference lists (KANJIDIC2, Unihan).
Trace it
Follow the numbers. Tracing help
Readings
- On (Chinese-derived)
- ベン ben
- Kun (native)
- つと·める tsuto-meru (rare)
- Meanings
- exertion; endeavour; encourage; strive; make effort; diligent
- Read ben
- 勉強 勤勉 勉学 勉強中
- School year
- third grade
- Newspaper rank
- 1066th of 2,500 (KANJIDIC2)
- Korean hanja
- 면 myeon
- Common words
- 4 in JMdict
Words with 勉
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 勉強 | べんきょう benkyou | study; diligence |
| 勤勉 | きんべん kinben | diligent; hard-working |
| 勉学 | べんがく bengaku | study; pursuit of knowledge |
| 勉強中 | べんきょうちゅう benkyouchuu | while studying; presently studying |
Most common first (JMdict).
Practice sheet
Print at 100%. Several kanji: worksheet maker.
Keep going
Same parts:
JLPT N4, in list order: