How to Write 下 (below, down, under) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 3-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) character 下 (“below, down, under”), indexed under the 一 (いち (one)) radical. Practice 下 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 下 (した (shita) — under / below), 地下鉄 (ちかてつ (chikatetsu) — subway), 下手 (へた (heta) — unskilled / bad at).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (下)
Primary Radical (部首): 一 — いち (one)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 一
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生) (JLPT N5). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (カ, ゲ) when 下 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (した, さ.がる, くだ.る) when 下 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (3画): With only 3 strokes, 下 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 一 (いち (one)) structure (Standalone / Integrated position) cleanly around the center intersection and finish terminal strokes with crisp tome (stop) or harai (sweep) release.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Baseline + downward mark
A baseline with a downward mark beneath it, indicating 'below' or 'bottom'.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 下
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 下 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 下 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 下 ("below, down, under") is written with 3 strokes (3画) as a JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 一 (いち (one)) radical. With only 3 strokes, 下 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 一 (いち (one)) structure (Standalone / Integrated position) 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 下?
For 下 (JLPT N5), the Onyomi is カ, ゲ and the Kunyomi is した, さ.がる, くだ.る. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (カ, ゲ) when 下 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (した, さ.がる, くだ.る) when 下 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 下 includes 下 (した (shita) — under / below), 地下鉄 (ちかてつ (chikatetsu) — subway), 下手 (へた (heta) — unskilled / bad at).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 下 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 3 strokes of 下 (below, down, under), start with the 一 (いち (one)) in the Standalone / Integrated (部首) position and follow standard Japanese Hitsujun (筆順) principles: top to bottom (上から下) and left to right (左から右). Practice 下 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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