How to Write 如 (likeness, like, such as, as if, better) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 6-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 如 (“likeness, like, such as, as if, better”), indexed under the 女 (おんな (woman)) radical. Practice 如 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 如し (ごとし (gotoshi) — likeness).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (如)
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 (ジョ, ニョ) when 如 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ごと.し) when 如 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (6画): Written with 6 strokes, 如 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 女 (おんな (woman)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 女 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 4 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 女 (おんな (woman))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 6 strokes under radical 女.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 如
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 如 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 如 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 如 ("likeness, like, such as, as if, better") is written with 6 strokes (6画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 女 (おんな (woman)) radical. Written with 6 strokes, 如 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 女 (おんな (woman)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 女 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 4 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 如?
For 如 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ジョ, ニョ and the Kunyomi is ごと.し. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ジョ, ニョ) when 如 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ごと.し) when 如 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 如 includes 如し (ごとし (gotoshi) — likeness).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 如 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 6 strokes of 如 (likeness, like, such as, as if, better), 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 如 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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