How to Write 北 (north) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 5-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) character 北 (“north”), indexed under the 匕 (さじ (spoon)) radical. Practice 北 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 北 (きた (kita) — north), 北海道 (ほっかいどう (hokkaidou) — Hokkaido).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (北)
Primary Radical (部首): 匕 — さじ (spoon)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 匕
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生) (JLPT N5). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ホク) when 北 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (きた) when 北 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (5画): With only 5 strokes, 北 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 5 strokes under radical 匕.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 北
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 北 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 北 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 北 ("north") is written with 5 strokes (5画) as a JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 匕 (さじ (spoon)) radical. With only 5 strokes, 北 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 北?
For 北 (JLPT N5), the Onyomi is ホク and the Kunyomi is きた. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ホク) when 北 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (きた) when 北 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 北 includes 北 (きた (kita) — north), 北海道 (ほっかいどう (hokkaidou) — Hokkaido).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 北 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 5 strokes of 北 (north), 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 北 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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