How to Write 奴 (guy, slave, manservant, fellow) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 5-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 奴 (“guy, slave, manservant, fellow”), indexed under the 女 (おんな (woman)) radical. Practice 奴 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 奴 (やつ (yatsu) — guy), 奴 (やっこ (yakko) — guy).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (奴)
Primary Radical (部首): 女 — おんな (woman)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Women, maternal relationships, and feminine traits
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ド) when 奴 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (やつ, やっこ) when 奴 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (5画): With only 5 strokes, 奴 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 女 (おんな (woman)) structure (Left (Hen / 偏) 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: 女 (おんな (woman))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 5 strokes under radical 女.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 奴
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 奴 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 奴 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 奴 ("guy, slave, manservant, fellow") is written with 5 strokes (5画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 女 (おんな (woman)) radical. With only 5 strokes, 奴 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 女 (おんな (woman)) structure (Left (Hen / 偏) 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 奴?
For 奴 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ド and the Kunyomi is やつ, やっこ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ド) when 奴 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (やつ, やっこ) when 奴 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 奴 includes 奴 (やつ (yatsu) — guy), 奴 (やっこ (yakko) — guy).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 奴 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 5 strokes of 奴 (guy, slave, manservant, fellow), start with the 女 (おんな (woman)) 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 奴 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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