Illustrated Flashcards in the Older Brother (兄) Family (Tap Readings for Audio)
Side-by-Side Comparison: 兄 vs. 説
Every kanji below contains the Older Brother (兄) component. Bold readings indicate the primary WaniKani reading:
| Kanji & Meaning | Readings (Bold = Primary) | Shibashi Visual Mnemonic Story | Top Compound Word |
|---|---|---|---|
| 兄 (Older Brother) | ON: きょう, けい KUN: — |
Your older brother can fit the whole Kyoto cake in his mouth. | 兄弟 (きょうだい) — (humble) siblings |
| 説 (Theory) | ON: せつ KUN: と |
In theory your birthday cake is free but somehow your evil brother in a set suit is still charging a toll ... | 説明 (せつめい) — explanation; exposition |
Essential Japanese Vocabulary Words Built from the Older Brother (兄) Family
Once you can recognize 兄 (Older Brother), 説 (Theory) by their shared Older Brother (兄) visual motif, practice reading them inside these high-frequency Japanese words from the Shibashi app:
| Japanese Word | Hiragana Reading | English Meaning | JLPT Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 兄弟 | きょうだい | (humble) siblings | JLPT |
| 説明 | せつめい | explanation; exposition | JLPT |
| 小説 | しょうせつ | novel; story | JLPT |
| 説 | せつ | theory; doctrine; view | JLPT |
| 説く | とく | to explain; to preach; to advocate | JLPT |