How to Write ユ (Katakana 'yu') — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 2-stroke writing sequence of the Katakana (カタカナ) (Foundational Japanese Kana Syllabary) character ユ (“Katakana 'yu'”), indexed under the ユ (—) radical. Practice ユ alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as ユニフォーム (yunifoomu — uniform).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (ユ)
Primary Radical (部首): ユ — —
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Foundational Japanese Kana Syllabary (Katakana (カタカナ)). As a phonetic Katakana (カタカナ) syllable pronounced "yu", ユ represents a fixed mora sound rather than splitting into Onyomi and Kunyomi readings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (2画): With only 2 strokes, ユ is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the ユ (—) 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), ユ conveys the core meaning “Katakana 'yu'” and is built around the ユ (—) radical across 2 strokes (foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes)). Reinforce ユ in memory by pairing its radical structure with real Jukugo vocabulary: ユニフォーム (yunifoomu — uniform).
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using ユ
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji ユ (FAQ)
How many strokes are in ユ and how is it structured?
The Japanese character ユ ("Katakana 'yu'") 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 ユ (—) radical. With only 2 strokes, ユ is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the ユ (—) 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 ユ?
For ユ (Katakana (カタカナ)), the Onyomi is — and the Kunyomi is yu. As a phonetic Katakana (カタカナ) syllable pronounced "yu", ユ represents a fixed mora sound rather than splitting into Onyomi and Kunyomi readings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using ユ includes ユニフォーム (yunifoomu — uniform).
What is the stroke order rule for writing ユ on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 2 strokes of ユ (Katakana 'yu'), start with the ユ (—) and follow standard Japanese Hitsujun (筆順) principles: top to bottom (上から下) and left to right (左から右). Practice ユ 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
View Full Katakana (カタカナ) Kanji List →Unlock All 2,000+ JLPT N5–N1 Kanji, AI Sensei & Unlimited Genkō Yōshi PDF Books
Get lifetime access to all 2,136 Jōyō Kanji (JLPT N5–N1), AI Kanji Sensei mnemonics, and unlimited Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheets for a one-time payment of $17.99 USD (10% OFF the $19.99 Lifetime Pro Pass with promo code KANJI10). Zero monthly subscriptions!