How to Write 人 (person, human) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 2-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) character 人 (“person, human”), indexed under the 人 (ひと (person)) radical. Practice 人 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 日本人 (にほんじん (nihonjin) — Japanese person), 大人 (おとな (otona) — adult), 人口 (じんこう (jinkou) — population).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (人)
Primary Radical (部首): 人 — ひと (person)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Humans, people, relationships, and human behavior
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生) (JLPT N5). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ジン, ニン) when 人 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ひと) when 人 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (2画): With only 2 strokes, 人 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 人 (ひと (person)) structure (Left (Hen / 偏) 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: 人 (ひと (person))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 2 strokes under radical 人.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 人
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 人 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 人 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 人 ("person, human") is written with 2 strokes (2画) as a JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 人 (ひと (person)) radical. With only 2 strokes, 人 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 人 (ひと (person)) structure (Left (Hen / 偏) 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 人?
For 人 (JLPT N5), the Onyomi is ジン, ニン and the Kunyomi is ひと. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ジン, ニン) when 人 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ひと) when 人 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 人 includes 日本人 (にほんじん (nihonjin) — Japanese person), 大人 (おとな (otona) — adult), 人口 (じんこう (jinkou) — population).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 人 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 2 strokes of 人 (person, human), start with the 人 (ひと (person)) in the Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen)) 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 人 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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