How to Write 保 (protect, guarantee, keep, preserve, sustain) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 9-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) character 保 (“protect, guarantee, keep, preserve, sustain”), indexed under the 人 (ひと / にんべん (person)) radical. Practice 保 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 保つ (たもつ (tamotsu) — protect).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (保)
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 N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ホ, ホウ) when 保 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (たも.つ) when 保 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (9画): Written with 9 strokes, 保 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 7 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 9 strokes under radical 人.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 保
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 保 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 保 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 保 ("protect, guarantee, keep, preserve, sustain") is written with 9 strokes (9画) as a JLPT N1 (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 9 strokes, 保 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 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 保?
For 保 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ホ, ホウ and the Kunyomi is たも.つ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ホ, ホウ) when 保 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (たも.つ) when 保 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 保 includes 保つ (たもつ (tamotsu) — protect).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 保 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 9 strokes of 保 (protect, guarantee, keep, preserve, sustain), 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 保 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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