# 弾 — bullet; play an instrument; bounce

弾 means “bullet; play an instrument; bounce”. It is a JLPT N1 kanji written with 12 strokes. On'yomi: ダン (dan), タン (tan). Kun'yomi: ひ(く) (hiku), はず(む) (hazumu), はじ(く) (hajiku). You'll see it in words such as 弾む (hazumu, “to spring; to bound”).

- Meaning: bullet; play an instrument; bounce
- On'yomi: ダン (dan), タン (tan)
- Kun'yomi: ひ(く) (hiku), はず(む) (hazumu), はじ(く) (hajiku)
- Strokes: 12
- Level: JLPT N1 · set Conflict & rivalry 2

## How to remember 弾

Sounds like 単: both read タン.

Parts: 弓 bow · 単 simple

## Words with 弾

| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 弾む | はずむ (hazumu) | to spring; to bound |
| 弾み | はずみ (hazumi) | bounce; spring |
| 弾く | ひく (hiku) | to play a string instrument or piano |

## Don't confuse it with

[単](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/simple/) · [戦](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/war/) · [禅](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/zen/) · [卑](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/lowly/)

## More in the “Conflict & rivalry 2” set

[障](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/obstacle/) · [闘](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/fight/) · [陣](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/battle-formation/) · [弾](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/bullet/) · [射](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/shoot/) · [衝](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/collide/) · [奪](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/snatch/) · [挑](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/challenge/)

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From Moji Ninja (https://moji.ninja/), a free app for learning hiragana, katakana and the JLPT kanji from N5 to N1 with spaced repetition. Page: https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/bullet/. Last updated 2026-11-01.