弟 — how to write the kanji for “younger brother”

弟 (“younger brother” and “faithful service to elders”) is a JLPT N4 kanji taught in second grade in Japan. KANJIDIC2 gives it 3 on readings and 1 kun reading, so the word decides how you say it. Its parts: 八 (“eight”), strokes 1–2; 弔 (“condolences”), strokes 3–6; 丿 (“slash”), stroke 7, each finished before the next. On its own it is the word otouto, “younger brother; little brother”. Its common words take the reading tei: 実弟 (“biological younger brother”), 子弟 (“children”), 義弟 (“brother-in-law…”) and 師弟 (“teacher and student”). Chinese reads it dì, “younger brother”, at HSK 1.

Strokes

7

JLPT

N4

Radical

弓 (“bow”)

On

テイ, デ, ダイ

Kun

おとうと