How to Write 坂 (slope, incline, hill) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 7-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) character 坂 (“slope, incline, hill”), indexed under the 土 (つち (earth)) radical. Practice 坂 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 坂 (さか (saka) — slope).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (坂)
Primary Radical (部首): 土 — つち (earth)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Ground, earth, clay, soil, land, and territory
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ハン) when 坂 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (さか) when 坂 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (7画): Written with 7 strokes, 坂 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 土 (つち (earth)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 土 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 5 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
土 (meaning) + 反 (sound ハン)
Derived from the meaning radical 土 (つち (earth)) and the phonetic component 反, giving the on-reading ハン.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 坂
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 坂 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 坂 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 坂 ("slope, incline, hill") is written with 7 strokes (7画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 土 (つち (earth)) radical. Written with 7 strokes, 坂 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 土 (つち (earth)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 土 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 5 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 坂?
For 坂 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is ハン and the Kunyomi is さか. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ハン) when 坂 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (さか) when 坂 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 坂 includes 坂 (さか (saka) — slope).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 坂 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 7 strokes of 坂 (slope, incline, hill), start with the 土 (つち (earth)) 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 坂 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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