How to Write 予 (beforehand, previous, myself, I) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 4-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) character 予 (“beforehand, previous, myself, I”), indexed under the 亅 (はねぼう (hook)) radical. Practice 予 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 予め (あらかじめ (arakajime) — beforehand).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (予)
Primary Radical (部首): 亅 — はねぼう (hook)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 亅
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ヨ, シャ) when 予 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (あらかじ.め) when 予 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (4画): With only 4 strokes, 予 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 亅 (はねぼう (hook)) 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: 亅 (はねぼう (hook))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 4 strokes under radical 亅.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 予
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 予 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 予 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 予 ("beforehand, previous, myself, I") is written with 4 strokes (4画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 亅 (はねぼう (hook)) radical. With only 4 strokes, 予 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 亅 (はねぼう (hook)) 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 予?
For 予 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is ヨ, シャ and the Kunyomi is あらかじ.め. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ヨ, シャ) when 予 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (あらかじ.め) when 予 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 予 includes 予め (あらかじめ (arakajime) — beforehand).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 予 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 4 strokes of 予 (beforehand, previous, myself, I), start with the 亅 (はねぼう (hook)) 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 予 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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