How to Write さ (Hiragana 'sa') — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 3-stroke writing sequence of the Hiragana (ひらがな) (Foundational Japanese Kana Syllabary) character さ (“Hiragana 'sa'”), indexed under the さ (—) radical. Practice さ alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as さくら (sakura — cherry blossom).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (さ)
Primary Radical (部首): さ — —
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Foundational Japanese Kana Syllabary (Hiragana (ひらがな)). As a phonetic Hiragana (ひらがな) syllable pronounced "sa", さ represents a fixed mora sound rather than splitting into Onyomi and Kunyomi readings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (3画): With only 3 strokes, さ is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the さ (—) structure cleanly around the center intersection and finish terminal strokes with crisp tome (stop) or harai (sweep) release.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
In Hiragana (ひらがな) (Foundational Japanese Kana Syllabary), さ conveys the core meaning “Hiragana 'sa'” and is built around the さ (—) radical across 3 strokes (foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes)). Reinforce さ in memory by pairing its radical structure with real Jukugo vocabulary: さくら (sakura — cherry blossom).
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using さ
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji さ (FAQ)
How many strokes are in さ and how is it structured?
The Japanese character さ ("Hiragana 'sa'") is written with 3 strokes (3画) as a Hiragana (ひらがな) (Foundational Japanese Kana Syllabary) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the さ (—) radical. With only 3 strokes, さ is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the さ (—) structure cleanly around the center intersection and finish terminal strokes with crisp tome (stop) or harai (sweep) release.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for さ?
For さ (Hiragana (ひらがな)), the Onyomi is — and the Kunyomi is sa. As a phonetic Hiragana (ひらがな) syllable pronounced "sa", さ represents a fixed mora sound rather than splitting into Onyomi and Kunyomi readings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using さ includes さくら (sakura — cherry blossom).
What is the stroke order rule for writing さ on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 3 strokes of さ (Hiragana 'sa'), start with the さ (—) and follow standard Japanese Hitsujun (筆順) principles: top to bottom (上から下) and left to right (左から右). Practice さ interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More Hiragana (ひらがな) Characters to Practice Next
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