How to Write 作 (make, production, prepare, build) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 7-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) character 作 (“make, production, prepare, build”), indexed under the 人 (ひと / にんべん (person)) radical. Practice 作 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 作る (つくる (tsukuru) — make), 作り (つくり (tsukuri) — make).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (作)
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 2 (小学2年生) (JLPT N4). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (サク, サ) when 作 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (つく.る, つく.り, -づく.り) when 作 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (7画): Written with 7 strokes, 作 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) + 人 (sound ジン)
Derived from the meaning radical 人 (ひと / にんべん (person)) and the phonetic component 人, giving the on-reading ジン / ニン.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 作
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 作 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 作 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 作 ("make, production, prepare, build") is written with 7 strokes (7画) as a JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2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, 作 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 作?
For 作 (JLPT N4), the Onyomi is サク, サ and the Kunyomi is つく.る, つく.り, -づく.り. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (サク, サ) when 作 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (つく.る, つく.り, -づく.り) when 作 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 作 includes 作る (つくる (tsukuru) — make), 作り (つくり (tsukuri) — make).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 作 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 7 strokes of 作 (make, production, prepare, build), 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 作 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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