How to Write 位 (rank, grade, throne, crown, about) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 7-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) character 位 (“rank, grade, throne, crown, about”), indexed under the 人 (ひと / にんべん (person)) radical. Practice 位 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 位 (くらい (kurai) — rank), 位 (ぐらい (gurai) — rank).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (位)
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 N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (イ) when 位 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (くらい, ぐらい) when 位 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (7画): Written with 7 strokes, 位 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 人 (ひと / にんべん (person)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 人 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 5 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
人 (meaning) + 立 (sound リツ)
Derived from the meaning radical 人 (ひと / にんべん (person)) and the phonetic component 立, giving the on-reading リツ.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 位
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 位 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 位 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 位 ("rank, grade, throne, crown, about") is written with 7 strokes (7画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 人 (ひと / にんべん (person)) radical. Written with 7 strokes, 位 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 人 (ひと / にんべん (person)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 人 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 5 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 位?
For 位 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is イ and the Kunyomi is くらい, ぐらい. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (イ) when 位 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (くらい, ぐらい) when 位 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 位 includes 位 (くらい (kurai) — rank), 位 (ぐらい (gurai) — rank).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 位 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 7 strokes of 位 (rank, grade, throne, crown, about), 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 位 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N3 Characters to Practice Next
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