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