How to Write 占 (fortune-telling, divining, forecasting, occupy, hold) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 5-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 占 (“fortune-telling, divining, forecasting, occupy, hold”), indexed under the 卜 (ぼく (divination)) radical. Practice 占 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 占める (しめる (shimeru) — fortune-telling), 占う (うらなう (uranau) — fortune-telling).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (占)
Primary Radical (部首): 卜 — ぼく (divination)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 卜
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (セン) when 占 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (し.める, うらな.う) when 占 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (5画): With only 5 strokes, 占 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 卜 (ぼく (divination)) 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: 卜 (ぼく (divination))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 5 strokes under radical 卜.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 占
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 占 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 占 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 占 ("fortune-telling, divining, forecasting, occupy, hold") is written with 5 strokes (5画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 卜 (ぼく (divination)) radical. With only 5 strokes, 占 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 卜 (ぼく (divination)) 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 占?
For 占 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is セン and the Kunyomi is し.める, うらな.う. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (セン) when 占 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (し.める, うらな.う) when 占 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 占 includes 占める (しめる (shimeru) — fortune-telling), 占う (うらなう (uranau) — fortune-telling).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 占 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 5 strokes of 占 (fortune-telling, divining, forecasting, occupy, hold), start with the 卜 (ぼく (divination)) 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 占 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N2 Characters to Practice Next
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