How to Write 化 (change, take the form of, influence, enchant, delude) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 4-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) character 化 (“change, take the form of, influence, enchant, delude”), indexed under the 匕 (さじ (spoon)) radical. Practice 化 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 化ける (ばける (bakeru) — change), 化かす (ばかす (bakasu) — change).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (化)
Primary Radical (部首): 匕 — さじ (spoon)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 匕
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (カ, ケ) when 化 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ば.ける, ば.かす, ふ.ける, け.する) when 化 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (4画): With only 4 strokes, 化 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 匕 (さじ (spoon)) 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: 匕 (さじ (spoon))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 4 strokes under radical 匕.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 化
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 化 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 化 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 化 ("change, take the form of, influence, enchant, delude") is written with 4 strokes (4画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 匕 (さじ (spoon)) radical. With only 4 strokes, 化 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 匕 (さじ (spoon)) 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 化?
For 化 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is カ, ケ and the Kunyomi is ば.ける, ば.かす, ふ.ける, け.する. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (カ, ケ) when 化 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ば.ける, ば.かす, ふ.ける, け.する) when 化 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 化 includes 化ける (ばける (bakeru) — change), 化かす (ばかす (bakasu) — change).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 化 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 4 strokes of 化 (change, take the form of, influence, enchant, delude), start with the 匕 (さじ (spoon)) 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 化 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N3 Characters to Practice Next
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