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Kotomora

兵

soldier, private, troops, army, warfare, strategy, tactics

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · grade 4FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes7

Readings

On'yomi

  • ヘイ
  • ヒョウ

Kun'yomi

  • つわもの

Nanori

  • へ

Meaning

兵 centers on military personnel and organized fighting: a soldier, troops, or an army, and by extension the warfare, strategy, and tactics they carry out.

Most common words using 兵

23 of 381
  • 兵器へいき
    N1

    arms; weapon; ordnance

  • 兵へい

    (common) soldier; rank and file

  • 兵士へいし
    N1

    soldier

  • 核兵器かくへいき
    N1

    nuclear weapon

  • 兵隊へいたい
    N2

    armed forces; military; troops

  • 徴兵ちょうへい
    N1

    conscription; (military) draft; (compulsory) enlistment

  • 兵力へいりょく

    military force; force of arms; strength of an army

  • 歩兵ほへい

    infantry; infantryman; foot soldier

  • 兵役へいえき
    N1

    military service; conscription

  • 民兵みんぺい

    militia; militiaman

  • 騎兵きへい

    cavalry; cavalryman; trooper

  • 派兵はへい

    dispatch of troops

  • 兵舎へいしゃ

    barracks

  • 砲兵ほうへい

    artillery; gunner

  • 伏兵ふくへい

    ambush; troops in ambush

  • 兵糧ひょうろう

    (army) provisions; food

  • 兵員へいいん

    military strength; military personnel

  • 工兵こうへい

    combat engineer; military engineer; combat engineering; military engineering

  • 将兵しょうへい

    officers and men

  • 軍兵ぐんぴょう

    armed forces; battle troops

  • 化学兵器かがくへいき

    chemical weapon

  • 海兵隊かいへいたい

    Marine Corps; Royal Marines

  • 撤兵てっぺい

    withdrawal of troops

Explore all words using 兵 →

Study

Etymology

兵 originally depicted two hands holding a weapon, later simplified to the modern form with 丘 (axe-like shape) above 八 (two hands). It represents a soldier or military action.

Meaning mnemonic

The top 丘 looks like an axe or weapon, and the bottom 八 resembles two hands gripping it. Picture a soldier holding a weapon ready for battle.

Reading mnemonic

For ヘイ, imagine a soldier shouting 'Hey!' as they charge into battle: Hey -> ヘイ, and the soldier's cry echoes across the troops.