How to Write 使 (use, send on a mission, order, messenger, envoy) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 8-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) character 使 (“use, send on a mission, order, messenger, envoy”), indexed under the 人 (ひと / にんべん (person)) radical. Practice 使 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 使う (つかう (tsukau) — use), 使い (つかい (tsukai) — use).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (使)
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 3 (小学3年生) (JLPT N4). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (シ) when 使 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (つか.う, つか.い, -つか.い, -づか.い) when 使 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (8画): Written with 8 strokes, 使 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 6 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 使
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 使 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 使 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 使 ("use, send on a mission, order, messenger, envoy") is written with 8 strokes (8画) as a JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 人 (ひと / にんべん (person)) radical. Written with 8 strokes, 使 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 6 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 使?
For 使 (JLPT N4), the Onyomi is シ and the Kunyomi is つか.う, つか.い, -つか.い, -づか.い. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (シ) when 使 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (つか.う, つか.い, -つか.い, -づか.い) when 使 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 使 includes 使う (つかう (tsukau) — use), 使い (つかい (tsukai) — use).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 使 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 8 strokes of 使 (use, send on a mission, order, messenger, envoy), 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 使 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!