How to Write 働 (work, (kokuji)) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 13-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) character 働 (“work, (kokuji)”), indexed under the 人 (ひと / にんべん (person)) radical. Practice 働 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 働く (はたらく (hataraku) — work).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (働)
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 4 (小学4年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ドウ) when 働 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (はたら.く) when 働 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (13画): At 13 strokes, 働 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 人 (ひと / にんべん (person)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 13 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
人 (meaning) + 重 (sound ジュウ)
Derived from the meaning radical 人 (ひと / にんべん (person)) and the phonetic component 重, giving the on-reading ジュウ / チョウ.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 働
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 働 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 働 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 働 ("work, (kokuji)") is written with 13 strokes (13画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 人 (ひと / にんべん (person)) radical. At 13 strokes, 働 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 人 (ひと / にんべん (person)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 13 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 働?
For 働 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is ドウ and the Kunyomi is はたら.く. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ドウ) when 働 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (はたら.く) when 働 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 働 includes 働く (はたらく (hataraku) — work).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 働 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 13 strokes of 働 (work, (kokuji)), 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 働 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N3 Characters to Practice Next
View Full JLPT N3 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!