How to Write 主 (lord, chief, master, main thing, principal) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 5-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) character 主 (“lord, chief, master, main thing, principal”), indexed under the 丶 (てん (dot)) radical. Practice 主 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 主 (ぬし (nushi) — lord), 主 (おも (omo) — lord).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (主)
Primary Radical (部首): 丶 — てん (dot)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 丶
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生) (JLPT N4). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (シュ, ス, シュウ) when 主 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ぬし, おも, あるじ) when 主 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (5画): With only 5 strokes, 主 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 丶 (てん (dot)) 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: 丶 (てん (dot))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 5 strokes under radical 丶.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 主
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 主 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 主 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 主 ("lord, chief, master, main thing, principal") is written with 5 strokes (5画) as a JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 丶 (てん (dot)) radical. With only 5 strokes, 主 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 丶 (てん (dot)) 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 主?
For 主 (JLPT N4), the Onyomi is シュ, ス, シュウ and the Kunyomi is ぬし, おも, あるじ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (シュ, ス, シュウ) when 主 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ぬし, おも, あるじ) when 主 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 主 includes 主 (ぬし (nushi) — lord), 主 (おも (omo) — lord).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 主 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 5 strokes of 主 (lord, chief, master, main thing, principal), start with the 丶 (てん (dot)) 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 主 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N4 Characters to Practice Next
View Full JLPT N4 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!