How to Write 善 (virtuous, good, goodness) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 12-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) character 善 (“virtuous, good, goodness”), indexed under the 口 (くち (mouth)) radical. Practice 善 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 善い (よい (yoi) — virtuous), 善い (いい (ii) — virtuous).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (善)
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 6 (小学6年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ゼン) when 善 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (よ.い, い.い, よ.く, よし.とする) when 善 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (12画): At 12 strokes, 善 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 口 (くち (mouth)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 12 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 口 (くち (mouth))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 12 strokes under radical 口.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 善
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 善 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 善 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 善 ("virtuous, good, goodness") is written with 12 strokes (12画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 口 (くち (mouth)) radical. At 12 strokes, 善 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 口 (くち (mouth)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 12 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 善?
For 善 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ゼン and the Kunyomi is よ.い, い.い, よ.く, よし.とする. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ゼン) when 善 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (よ.い, い.い, よ.く, よし.とする) when 善 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 善 includes 善い (よい (yoi) — virtuous), 善い (いい (ii) — virtuous).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 善 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 12 strokes of 善 (virtuous, good, goodness), 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 善 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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