How to Write 兵 (soldier, private, troops, army, warfare) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 7-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) character 兵 (“soldier, private, troops, army, warfare”), indexed under the 八 (はち (eight)) radical. Practice 兵 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 兵 (つわもの (tsuwamono) — soldier).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (兵)
Primary Radical (部首): 八 — はち (eight)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 八
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ヘイ, ヒョウ) when 兵 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (つわもの) when 兵 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (7画): Written with 7 strokes, 兵 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 八 (はち (eight)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 八 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 5 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 八 (はち (eight))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 7 strokes under radical 八.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 兵
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 兵 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 兵 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 兵 ("soldier, private, troops, army, warfare") is written with 7 strokes (7画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 八 (はち (eight)) radical. Written with 7 strokes, 兵 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 八 (はち (eight)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 八 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 5 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 兵?
For 兵 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is ヘイ, ヒョウ and the Kunyomi is つわもの. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ヘイ, ヒョウ) when 兵 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (つわもの) when 兵 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 兵 includes 兵 (つわもの (tsuwamono) — soldier).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 兵 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 7 strokes of 兵 (soldier, private, troops, army, warfare), 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 兵 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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