How to Write カ (Katakana 'ka') — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 2-stroke writing sequence of the Katakana (カタカナ) (Foundational Japanese Kana Syllabary) character カ (“Katakana 'ka'”), indexed under the カ (—) radical. Practice カ alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as カメラ (kamera — camera).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (カ)
Primary Radical (部首): カ — —
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Foundational Japanese Kana Syllabary (Katakana (カタカナ)). As a phonetic Katakana (カタカナ) syllable pronounced "ka", カ represents a fixed mora sound rather than splitting into Onyomi and Kunyomi readings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (2画): With only 2 strokes, カ is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the カ (—) 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), カ conveys the core meaning “Katakana 'ka'” and is built around the カ (—) radical across 2 strokes (foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes)). Reinforce カ in memory by pairing its radical structure with real Jukugo vocabulary: カメラ (kamera — camera).
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using カ
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji カ (FAQ)
How many strokes are in カ and how is it structured?
The Japanese character カ ("Katakana 'ka'") is written with 2 strokes (2画) as a Katakana (カタカナ) (Foundational Japanese Kana Syllabary) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the カ (—) radical. With only 2 strokes, カ is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the カ (—) 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 カ?
For カ (Katakana (カタカナ)), the Onyomi is — and the Kunyomi is ka. As a phonetic Katakana (カタカナ) syllable pronounced "ka", カ represents a fixed mora sound rather than splitting into Onyomi and Kunyomi readings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using カ includes カメラ (kamera — camera).
What is the stroke order rule for writing カ on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 2 strokes of カ (Katakana 'ka'), start with the カ (—) and follow standard Japanese Hitsujun (筆順) principles: top to bottom (上から下) and left to right (左から右). Practice カ interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More Katakana (カタカナ) Characters to Practice Next
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