How to Write 不 (negative, non-, bad, ugly, clumsy) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 4-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) character 不 (“negative, non-, bad, ugly, clumsy”), indexed under the 一 (いち (one)) radical. Practice 不 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 不 (フ / ふ (fu) — negative).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (不)
Primary Radical (部首): 一 — いち (one)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 一
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生) (JLPT N4). 不 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (フ, ブ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (4画): With only 4 strokes, 不 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)
Radical: 一 (いち (one))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 4 strokes under radical 一.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 不
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 不 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 不 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 不 ("negative, non-, bad, ugly, clumsy") is written with 4 strokes (4画) as a JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 一 (いち (one)) radical. With only 4 strokes, 不 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 不?
For 不 (JLPT N4), the Onyomi is フ, ブ and the Kunyomi is —. 不 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (フ, ブ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 不 includes 不 (フ / ふ (fu) — negative).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 不 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 4 strokes of 不 (negative, non-, bad, ugly, clumsy), 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 不 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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