How to Write 五 (five) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 4-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) character 五 (“five”), indexed under the 二 (に (two)) radical. Practice 五 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 五つ (いつつ (itsutsu) — five things), 五月 (ごがつ (gogatsu) — May), 五人 (ごにん (gonin) — five people).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (五)
Primary Radical (部首): 二 — に (two)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 二
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生) (JLPT N5). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ゴ) when 五 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (いつ-, いつ.つ) when 五 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (4画): With only 4 strokes, 五 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 二 (に (two)) 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: 二 (に (two))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 4 strokes under radical 二.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 五
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 五 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 五 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 五 ("five") is written with 4 strokes (4画) as a JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 二 (に (two)) radical. With only 4 strokes, 五 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 二 (に (two)) 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 五?
For 五 (JLPT N5), the Onyomi is ゴ and the Kunyomi is いつ-, いつ.つ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ゴ) when 五 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (いつ-, いつ.つ) when 五 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 五 includes 五つ (いつつ (itsutsu) — five things), 五月 (ごがつ (gogatsu) — May), 五人 (ごにん (gonin) — five people).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 五 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 4 strokes of 五 (five), start with the 二 (に (two)) 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 五 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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