How to Write 僕 (me, I (male), servant, manservant) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 14-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 僕 (“me, I (male), servant, manservant”), indexed under the 人 (ひと / にんべん (person)) radical. Practice 僕 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 僕 (しもべ (shimobe) — me).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (僕)
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 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ボク) when 僕 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (しもべ) when 僕 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (14画): At 14 strokes, 僕 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 14 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 人 (ひと / にんべん (person))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 14 strokes under radical 人.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 僕
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 僕 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 僕 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 僕 ("me, I (male), servant, manservant") is written with 14 strokes (14画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 人 (ひと / にんべん (person)) radical. At 14 strokes, 僕 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 14 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 僕?
For 僕 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ボク and the Kunyomi is しもべ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ボク) when 僕 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (しもべ) when 僕 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 僕 includes 僕 (しもべ (shimobe) — me).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 僕 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 14 strokes of 僕 (me, I (male), servant, manservant), 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 僕 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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