KanjiSchool
熊
熊 (readings: ゆう, くま; Japanese kanji) means “bear / Kumamoto”. It is a Grade 4 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 4 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 熊本 (Kumamoto).
What does 熊 mean?
| Kanji | 熊 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | bear / Kumamoto |
| Readings | ゆう, くま |
| Grade | Grade 4 (Upper) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
How to read 熊
熊 is read ゆう or くま depending on the word.
Example words with 熊
| Example | 熊本 (Kumamoto) |
|---|
Practice writing 熊 — free
See 熊's stroke order, take a quiz, and add it to your spaced-repetition review. KanjiSchool teaches all 1,026 Kyōiku kanji through real stories and news.
Start free — no credit card →
Updated: 2026-07-14