How to Write 丑 (sign of the ox or cow, 1-3AM, second sign of Chinese zodiac) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 4-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 9 (小学9年生)) character 丑 (“sign of the ox or cow, 1-3AM, second sign of Chinese zodiac”), indexed under the 一 (いち (one)) radical. Practice 丑 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 丑 (うし (ushi) — sign of the ox or cow).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (丑)
Primary Radical (部首): 一 — いち (one)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 一
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 9 (小学9年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (チュウ) when 丑 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (うし) when 丑 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (4画): With only 4 strokes, 丑 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 丑
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 丑 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 丑 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 丑 ("sign of the ox or cow, 1-3AM, second sign of Chinese zodiac") is written with 4 strokes (4画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 9 (小学9年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 一 (いち (one)) radical. With only 4 strokes, 丑 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 丑?
For 丑 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is チュウ and the Kunyomi is うし. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (チュウ) when 丑 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (うし) when 丑 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 丑 includes 丑 (うし (ushi) — sign of the ox or cow).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 丑 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 4 strokes of 丑 (sign of the ox or cow, 1-3AM, second sign of Chinese zodiac), 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 丑 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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