How to Write 勇 (courage, cheer up, be in high spirits, bravery, heroism) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 9-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) character 勇 (“courage, cheer up, be in high spirits, bravery, heroism”), indexed under the 力 (ちから (power)) radical. Practice 勇 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 勇む (いさむ (isamu) — courage).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (勇)
Primary Radical (部首): 力 — ちから (power)
Radical Position: Right (Tsukuri / 旁) (旁 (Tsukuri))
Semantic Theme: Physical strength, effort, power, and labor
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ユウ) when 勇 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (いさ.む) when 勇 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (9画): Written with 9 strokes, 勇 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 力 (ちから (power)) radical (Right (Tsukuri / 旁) position). Establish the 力 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 力 (ちから (power))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 9 strokes under radical 力.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 勇
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 勇 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 勇 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 勇 ("courage, cheer up, be in high spirits, bravery, heroism") is written with 9 strokes (9画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 力 (ちから (power)) radical. Written with 9 strokes, 勇 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 力 (ちから (power)) radical (Right (Tsukuri / 旁) position). Establish the 力 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 勇?
For 勇 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is ユウ and the Kunyomi is いさ.む. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ユウ) when 勇 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (いさ.む) when 勇 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 勇 includes 勇む (いさむ (isamu) — courage).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 勇 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 9 strokes of 勇 (courage, cheer up, be in high spirits, bravery, heroism), start with the 力 (ちから (power)) 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 勇 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N2 Characters to Practice Next
View Full JLPT N2 Kanji List →Unlock All 2,000+ JLPT N5–N1 Kanji, AI Sensei & Unlimited Genkō Yōshi PDF Books
Get lifetime access to all 2,136 Jōyō Kanji (JLPT N5–N1), AI Kanji Sensei mnemonics, and unlimited Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheets for a one-time payment of $17.99 USD (10% OFF the $19.99 Lifetime Pro Pass with promo code KANJI10). Zero monthly subscriptions!