音読み: ケン
訓読み: かねる
画数: 10
部首: はち（八）
Meaning
Combine / Concurrent / Dual-Use
- Basic forms
- 兼ねる — hold concurrently; serve as / base form
- 兼ねます — holds concurrently; serves as / masu form
- 兼ねた — held concurrently; served as / ta form
- 兼ねて — serving as … / te form
- 兼ねない — do not hold concurrently / negative
- 兼ねれば — if (one) holds concurrently / conditional
- Common expressions
- 社長を兼ねる — also serve as company president
- 教師と管理職を兼ねる — hold both teacher and manager roles
- 趣味と実益を兼ねる — combine pleasure and profit
- More
- 兼ねている — is holding concurrently; is serving as / state
兼ねる（かねる） is an ichidan transitive verb. It means to hold multiple roles or functions at the same time, and is common in formal or written contexts.
- 兼業 — side job; holding another job
- 兼任 — concurrent post
- 兼職 — multiple jobs
- 兼用 — dual-use; shared use
- 兼ねる — to combine; to be unable to do
The kanji 兼 depicts two bundles of rice (禾) being joined together by hand (又), symbolizing the idea of combining or doing more than one thing simultaneously. It’s often used in professional or administrative contexts.