How to Write 今 (now) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 4-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) character 今 (“now”), indexed under the 人 (ひと (person)) radical. Practice 今 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 今 (いま (ima) — now), 今日 (きょう (kyou) — today), 今週 (こんしゅう (konshuu) — this week).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (今)
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 2 (小学2年生) (JLPT N5). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (コン, キン) when 今 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (いま) when 今 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (4画): With only 4 strokes, 今 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)
人 (meaning) + 人 (sound ジン)
Derived from the meaning radical 人 (ひと (person)) and the phonetic component 人, giving the on-reading ジン / ニン.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 今
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 今 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 今 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 今 ("now") is written with 4 strokes (4画) as a JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 人 (ひと (person)) radical. With only 4 strokes, 今 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 今?
For 今 (JLPT N5), the Onyomi is コン, キン and the Kunyomi is いま. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (コン, キン) when 今 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (いま) when 今 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 今 includes 今 (いま (ima) — now), 今日 (きょう (kyou) — today), 今週 (こんしゅう (konshuu) — this week).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 今 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 4 strokes of 今 (now), 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 今 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N5 Characters to Practice Next
View Full JLPT N5 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!