How to Write 余 (too much, myself, surplus, other, remainder) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 7-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) character 余 (“too much, myself, surplus, other, remainder”), indexed under the 人 (ひと / にんべん (person)) radical. Practice 余 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 余る (あまる (amaru) — too much), 余り (あまり (amari) — too much).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (余)
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 5 (小学5年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ヨ) when 余 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (あま.る, あま.り, あま.す, あんま.り) when 余 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (7画): Written with 7 strokes, 余 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)
Radical: 人 (ひと / にんべん (person))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 7 strokes under radical 人.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 余
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 余 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 余 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 余 ("too much, myself, surplus, other, remainder") is written with 7 strokes (7画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5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, 余 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 余?
For 余 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is ヨ and the Kunyomi is あま.る, あま.り, あま.す, あんま.り. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ヨ) when 余 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (あま.る, あま.り, あま.す, あんま.り) when 余 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 余 includes 余る (あまる (amaru) — too much), 余り (あまり (amari) — too much).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 余 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 7 strokes of 余 (too much, myself, surplus, other, remainder), 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 余 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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