How to Write 副 (vice-, assistant, aide, duplicate, copy) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 11-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) character 副 (“vice-, assistant, aide, duplicate, copy”), indexed under the 刀 (かたな / りっとう (sword)) radical. Practice 副 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 副 (フク / ふく (fuku) — vice-).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (副)
Primary Radical (部首): 刀 — かたな / りっとう (sword)
Radical Position: Right (Tsukuri / 旁) (旁 (Tsukuri))
Semantic Theme: Knives, swords, cutting, dividing, and sharpness
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生) (JLPT N2). 副 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (フク) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (11画): Written with 11 strokes, 副 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 刀 (かたな / りっとう (sword)) radical (Right (Tsukuri / 旁) position). Establish the 刀 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 9 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 刀 (かたな / りっとう (sword))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 11 strokes under radical 刀.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 副
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 副 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 副 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 副 ("vice-, assistant, aide, duplicate, copy") is written with 11 strokes (11画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 刀 (かたな / りっとう (sword)) radical. Written with 11 strokes, 副 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 刀 (かたな / りっとう (sword)) radical (Right (Tsukuri / 旁) position). Establish the 刀 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 9 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 副?
For 副 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is フク and the Kunyomi is —. 副 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (フク) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 副 includes 副 (フク / ふく (fuku) — vice-).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 副 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 11 strokes of 副 (vice-, assistant, aide, duplicate, copy), start with the 刀 (かたな / りっとう (sword)) in the Right (Tsukuri / 旁) (旁 (Tsukuri)) 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 副 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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