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