How to Write 先 (before, ahead, previous) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 6-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) character 先 (“before, ahead, previous”), indexed under the 儿 (ひとあし (human legs)) radical. Practice 先 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 先月 (せんげつ (sengetsu) — last month), 先生 (せんせい (sensei) — teacher), お先に (おさきに (osakini) — ahead of you).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (先)
Primary Radical (部首): 儿 — ひとあし (human legs)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 儿
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生) (JLPT N5). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (セン) when 先 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (さき, ま.ず) when 先 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (6画): Written with 6 strokes, 先 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 儿 (ひとあし (human legs)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 儿 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 4 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 儿 (ひとあし (human legs))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 6 strokes under radical 儿.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 先
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 先 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 先 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 先 ("before, ahead, previous") is written with 6 strokes (6画) as a JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 儿 (ひとあし (human legs)) radical. Written with 6 strokes, 先 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 儿 (ひとあし (human legs)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 儿 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 4 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 先?
For 先 (JLPT N5), the Onyomi is セン and the Kunyomi is さき, ま.ず. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (セン) when 先 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (さき, ま.ず) when 先 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 先 includes 先月 (せんげつ (sengetsu) — last month), 先生 (せんせい (sensei) — teacher), お先に (おさきに (osakini) — ahead of you).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 先 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 6 strokes of 先 (before, ahead, previous), start with the 儿 (ひとあし (human legs)) in the Standalone / Integrated (部首) 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 先 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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