How to Write 個 (individual, counter for articles) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 10-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) character 個 (“individual, counter for articles”), indexed under the 人 (ひと / にんべん (person)) radical. Practice 個 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 個 (コ / こ (ko) — individual).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (個)
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 N2). 個 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (コ, カ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (10画): Written with 10 strokes, 個 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 8 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 10 strokes under radical 人.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 個
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 個 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 個 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 個 ("individual, counter for articles") is written with 10 strokes (10画) as a JLPT N2 (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 10 strokes, 個 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 8 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 個?
For 個 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is コ, カ and the Kunyomi is —. 個 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (コ, カ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 個 includes 個 (コ / こ (ko) — individual).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 個 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 10 strokes of 個 (individual, counter for articles), 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 個 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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