How to Write 員 (employee, member, number, the one in charge) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 10-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) character 員 (“employee, member, number, the one in charge”), indexed under the 口 (くち (mouth)) radical. Practice 員 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 員 (イン / いん (in) — employee).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (員)
Primary Radical (部首): 口 — くち (mouth)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Mouth, speaking, eating, openings, and vocalization
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生) (JLPT N4). 員 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (イン) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (10画): Written with 10 strokes, 員 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 口 (くち (mouth)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 口 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 8 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 口 (くち (mouth))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 10 strokes under radical 口.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 員
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 員 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 員 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 員 ("employee, member, number, the one in charge") is written with 10 strokes (10画) as a JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 口 (くち (mouth)) radical. Written with 10 strokes, 員 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 口 (くち (mouth)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 口 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 8 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 員?
For 員 (JLPT N4), the Onyomi is イン and the Kunyomi is —. 員 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (イン) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 員 includes 員 (イン / いん (in) — employee).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 員 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 10 strokes of 員 (employee, member, number, the one in charge), start with the 口 (くち (mouth)) in the Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen)) 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 員 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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