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