How to Write 国 (country, nation) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 8-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) character 国 (“country, nation”), indexed under the 囗 (くにがまえ (box enclosure)) radical. Practice 国 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 外国 (がいこく (gaikoku) — foreign country), 国籍 (こくせき (kokuseki) — nationality), 中国 (ちゅうごく (chuugoku) — China).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (国)
Primary Radical (部首): 囗 — くにがまえ (box enclosure)
Radical Position: Enclosure (Kamae / 構) (構 (Kamae))
Semantic Theme: Enclosed borders, walls, territory, and countries
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生) (JLPT N5). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (コク) when 国 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (くに) when 国 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (8画): Written with 8 strokes, 国 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 囗 (くにがまえ (box enclosure)) radical (Enclosure (Kamae / 構) position). Establish the 囗 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 6 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 囗 (くにがまえ (box enclosure))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 8 strokes under radical 囗.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 国
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 国 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 国 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 国 ("country, nation") is written with 8 strokes (8画) as a JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 囗 (くにがまえ (box enclosure)) radical. Written with 8 strokes, 国 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 囗 (くにがまえ (box enclosure)) radical (Enclosure (Kamae / 構) position). Establish the 囗 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 6 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 国?
For 国 (JLPT N5), the Onyomi is コク and the Kunyomi is くに. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (コク) when 国 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (くに) when 国 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 国 includes 外国 (がいこく (gaikoku) — foreign country), 国籍 (こくせき (kokuseki) — nationality), 中国 (ちゅうごく (chuugoku) — China).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 国 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 8 strokes of 国 (country, nation), start with the 囗 (くにがまえ (box enclosure)) in the Enclosure (Kamae / 構) (構 (Kamae)) 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 国 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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