Skip to content
道Nihongo Path
雄

雄·male, hero, brave

On-yomi
ユウ
Kun-yomi
おおす

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

12 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
雄おすmale animal
英雄えいゆうhero
雄大ゆうだいmagnificent, grand
雄牛おうしbull, ox

Example sentences

  1. この鳥は雄のほうが色がきれいだ。

    このとりはおすのほうがいろがきれいだ。

    The males of this bird have prettier colors.

  2. 彼は国の英雄として今も有名です。

    かれはくにのえいゆうとしていまもゆうめいです。

    He is still famous as a national hero.

  3. 山の上から雄大な景色が見えた。

    やまのうえからゆうだいなけしきがみえた。

    We could see a magnificent view from the top of the mountain.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 雄牛 as *おすうし — it contracts to おうし
  • Using 雄 for human males; for people you use 男, while 雄 is for animals or the 'heroic' sense

Memory aid

Picture it

A short-tailed bird (隹) puffed up on the right — the male bird showing off its plumage.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5

What does the kanji 雄 mean?