How to Write 士 (gentleman, scholar, samurai, samurai radical (no. 33)) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 3-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) character 士 (“gentleman, scholar, samurai, samurai radical (no. 33)”), indexed under the 士 (さむらい (scholar)) radical. Practice 士 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 士 (さむらい (samurai) — gentleman).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (士)
Primary Radical (部首): 士 — さむらい (scholar)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 士
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (シ) when 士 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (さむらい) when 士 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (3画): With only 3 strokes, 士 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 士 (さむらい (scholar)) 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: 士 (さむらい (scholar))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 3 strokes under radical 士.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 士
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 士 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 士 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 士 ("gentleman, scholar, samurai, samurai radical (no. 33)") is written with 3 strokes (3画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 士 (さむらい (scholar)) radical. With only 3 strokes, 士 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 士 (さむらい (scholar)) 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 士?
For 士 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is シ and the Kunyomi is さむらい. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (シ) when 士 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (さむらい) when 士 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 士 includes 士 (さむらい (samurai) — gentleman).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 士 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 3 strokes of 士 (gentleman, scholar, samurai, samurai radical (no. 33)), start with the 士 (さむらい (scholar)) 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 士 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N1 Characters to Practice Next
View Full JLPT N1 Kanji List →Unlock All 2,000+ JLPT N5–N1 Kanji, AI Sensei & Unlimited Genkō Yōshi PDF Books
Get lifetime access to all 2,136 Jōyō Kanji (JLPT N5–N1), AI Kanji Sensei mnemonics, and unlimited Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheets for a one-time payment of $17.99 USD (10% OFF the $19.99 Lifetime Pro Pass with promo code KANJI10). Zero monthly subscriptions!