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