How to Write 天 (heavens, sky, imperial) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 4-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) character 天 (“heavens, sky, imperial”), indexed under the 大 (だい (big)) radical. Practice 天 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 天気 (てんき (tenki) — weather), 天国 (てんごく (tengoku) — heaven / paradise).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (天)
Primary Radical (部首): 大 — だい (big)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 大
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生) (JLPT N5). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (テン) when 天 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (あまつ, あめ) when 天 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (4画): With only 4 strokes, 天 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 大 (だい (big)) 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: 大 (だい (big))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 4 strokes under radical 大.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 天
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 天 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 天 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 天 ("heavens, sky, imperial") is written with 4 strokes (4画) as a JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 大 (だい (big)) radical. With only 4 strokes, 天 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 大 (だい (big)) 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 天?
For 天 (JLPT N5), the Onyomi is テン and the Kunyomi is あまつ, あめ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (テン) when 天 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (あまつ, あめ) when 天 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 天 includes 天気 (てんき (tenki) — weather), 天国 (てんごく (tengoku) — heaven / paradise).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 天 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 4 strokes of 天 (heavens, sky, imperial), start with the 大 (だい (big)) 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 天 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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