How to Write 午 (noon, sign of the horse, 11AM-1PM, seventh sign of Chinese zodiac) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 4-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) character 午 (“noon, sign of the horse, 11AM-1PM, seventh sign of Chinese zodiac”), indexed under the 十 (じゅう (ten)) radical. Practice 午 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 午 (うま (uma) — noon).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (午)
Primary Radical (部首): 十 — じゅう (ten)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 十
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生) (JLPT N5). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ゴ) when 午 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (うま) when 午 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (4画): With only 4 strokes, 午 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 十 (じゅう (ten)) 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: 十 (じゅう (ten))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 4 strokes under radical 十.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 午
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 午 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 午 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 午 ("noon, sign of the horse, 11AM-1PM, seventh sign of Chinese zodiac") is written with 4 strokes (4画) as a JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 十 (じゅう (ten)) radical. With only 4 strokes, 午 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 十 (じゅう (ten)) 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 午?
For 午 (JLPT N5), the Onyomi is ゴ and the Kunyomi is うま. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ゴ) when 午 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (うま) when 午 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 午 includes 午 (うま (uma) — noon).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 午 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 4 strokes of 午 (noon, sign of the horse, 11AM-1PM, seventh sign of Chinese zodiac), start with the 十 (じゅう (ten)) 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 午 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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