How to Write エ (Katakana 'e') — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 3-stroke writing sequence of the Katakana (カタカナ) (Foundational Japanese Kana Syllabary) character エ (“Katakana 'e'”), indexed under the エ (—) radical. Practice エ alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as エアコン (eakon — air conditioner).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (エ)
Primary Radical (部首): エ — —
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Foundational Japanese Kana Syllabary (Katakana (カタカナ)). As a phonetic Katakana (カタカナ) syllable pronounced "e", エ represents a fixed mora sound rather than splitting into Onyomi and Kunyomi readings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (3画): With only 3 strokes, エ is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the エ (—) 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 Katakana (カタカナ) (Foundational Japanese Kana Syllabary), エ conveys the core meaning “Katakana 'e'” and is built around the エ (—) radical across 3 strokes (foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes)). Reinforce エ in memory by pairing its radical structure with real Jukugo vocabulary: エアコン (eakon — air conditioner).
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using エ
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji エ (FAQ)
How many strokes are in エ and how is it structured?
The Japanese character エ ("Katakana 'e'") is written with 3 strokes (3画) as a Katakana (カタカナ) (Foundational Japanese Kana Syllabary) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the エ (—) radical. With only 3 strokes, エ is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the エ (—) 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 エ?
For エ (Katakana (カタカナ)), the Onyomi is — and the Kunyomi is e. As a phonetic Katakana (カタカナ) syllable pronounced "e", エ represents a fixed mora sound rather than splitting into Onyomi and Kunyomi readings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using エ includes エアコン (eakon — air conditioner).
What is the stroke order rule for writing エ on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 3 strokes of エ (Katakana 'e'), start with the エ (—) and follow standard Japanese Hitsujun (筆順) principles: top to bottom (上から下) and left to right (左から右). Practice エ interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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