How to Write ノ (Katakana 'no') — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 1-stroke writing sequence of the Katakana (カタカナ) (Foundational Japanese Kana Syllabary) character ノ (“Katakana 'no'”), indexed under the ノ (—) radical. Practice ノ alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as ノート (nooto — notebook).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (ノ)
Primary Radical (部首): ノ — —
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Foundational Japanese Kana Syllabary (Katakana (カタカナ)). As a phonetic Katakana (カタカナ) syllable pronounced "no", ノ represents a fixed mora sound rather than splitting into Onyomi and Kunyomi readings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (1画): With only 1 stroke, ノ is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the ノ (—) 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), ノ conveys the core meaning “Katakana 'no'” and is built around the ノ (—) radical across 1 strokes (foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes)). Reinforce ノ in memory by pairing its radical structure with real Jukugo vocabulary: ノート (nooto — notebook).
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using ノ
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji ノ (FAQ)
How many strokes are in ノ and how is it structured?
The Japanese character ノ ("Katakana 'no'") is written with 1 stroke (1画) as a Katakana (カタカナ) (Foundational Japanese Kana Syllabary) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the ノ (—) radical. With only 1 stroke, ノ is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the ノ (—) 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 ノ?
For ノ (Katakana (カタカナ)), the Onyomi is — and the Kunyomi is no. As a phonetic Katakana (カタカナ) syllable pronounced "no", ノ represents a fixed mora sound rather than splitting into Onyomi and Kunyomi readings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using ノ includes ノート (nooto — notebook).
What is the stroke order rule for writing ノ on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 1 strokes of ノ (Katakana 'no'), start with the ノ (—) and follow standard Japanese Hitsujun (筆順) principles: top to bottom (上から下) and left to right (左から右). Practice ノ 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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