How to Write 六 (six) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 4-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) character 六 (“six”), indexed under the 八 (はち (eight)) radical. Practice 六 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 六つ (むっつ (muttsu) — six things), 六月 (ろくがつ (rokugatsu) — June), 六人 (ろくにん (rokunin) — six people).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (六)
Primary Radical (部首): 八 — はち (eight)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 八
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生) (JLPT N5). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ロク) when 六 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (む-, む.つ, むっ.つ, むい) when 六 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (4画): With only 4 strokes, 六 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 八 (はち (eight)) structure (Standalone / Integrated position) cleanly around the center intersection and finish terminal strokes with crisp tome (stop) or harai (sweep) release.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 八 (はち (eight))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 4 strokes under radical 八.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 六
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 六 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 六 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 六 ("six") is written with 4 strokes (4画) as a JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 八 (はち (eight)) radical. With only 4 strokes, 六 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 八 (はち (eight)) structure (Standalone / Integrated position) cleanly around the center intersection and finish terminal strokes with crisp tome (stop) or harai (sweep) release.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 六?
For 六 (JLPT N5), the Onyomi is ロク and the Kunyomi is む-, む.つ, むっ.つ, むい. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ロク) when 六 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (む-, む.つ, むっ.つ, むい) when 六 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 六 includes 六つ (むっつ (muttsu) — six things), 六月 (ろくがつ (rokugatsu) — June), 六人 (ろくにん (rokunin) — six people).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 六 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 4 strokes of 六 (six), start with the 八 (はち (eight)) 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 六 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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