英 means “English, brilliant”

えい · ei

Also: England, hero, outstanding

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

はなぶさ

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

エイ

JLPT N4 · Taught in grade 4 · 8 strokes

The story

A flower (艹) at the peak of bloom: brilliance at its center. When Japan needed a name for Britain it chose this "land of flowering excellence," and 英語 has meant English ever since.

Used in 英語 (eigo, English language), 英国 (eikoku, Britain), and 英雄 (eiyuu, hero)

More from Scholar's Path

• 勉 effort
• 漢 China
• 意 meaning
• 強 strong
• 説 explain
• 研 polish
• 究 research
• 質 quality
• 験 test

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

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