傑 means “outstanding, hero, excellence”

けつ · ketsu

Also: greatness

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

すぐれる

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ケツ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 13 strokes

The story

A person (亻) standing on both feet (舛) at the top of a tree (木): head and shoulders above everyone else. 傑作 is a masterpiece, 傑出 is outstanding, and a 豪傑 is a bold, larger-than-life hero out of the old war tales.

Used in 傑作 (kessaku, masterpiece), 傑出 (kesshutsu, outstanding), and 豪傑 (gouketsu, bold hero)

More from Crests & Honors

• 褒 praise
• 璽 imperial seal
• 標 mark
• 徴 sign
• 功 merit
• 称 name
• 誉 honor
• 威 dignity
• 旗 flag
• 誇 pride
• 彰 commend
• 卓 table

Learn 傑 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.