How to Write 以 (by means of, because, in view of, compared with) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 5-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) character 以 (“by means of, because, in view of, compared with”), indexed under the 人 (ひと / にんべん (person)) radical. Practice 以 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 以て (もって (motte) — by means of).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (以)
Primary Radical (部首): 人 — ひと / にんべん (person)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Humans, people, relationships, and human behavior
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生) (JLPT N4). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (イ) when 以 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (もっ.て) when 以 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (5画): With only 5 strokes, 以 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 / にんべん (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 / にんべん (person))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 5 strokes under radical 人.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 以
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 以 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 以 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 以 ("by means of, because, in view of, compared with") is written with 5 strokes (5画) as a JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 人 (ひと / にんべん (person)) radical. With only 5 strokes, 以 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 / にんべん (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 以?
For 以 (JLPT N4), the Onyomi is イ and the Kunyomi is もっ.て. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (イ) when 以 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (もっ.て) when 以 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 以 includes 以て (もって (motte) — by means of).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 以 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 5 strokes of 以 (by means of, because, in view of, compared with), start with the 人 (ひと / にんべん (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 以 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!