How to Write 姉 (elder sister) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 8-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) character 姉 (“elder sister”), indexed under the 女 (おんな (woman)) radical. Practice 姉 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 姉 (あね (ane) — elder sister), 姉 (はは (haha) — elder sister).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (姉)
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 2 (小学2年生) (JLPT N4). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (シ) when 姉 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (あね, はは) when 姉 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (8画): Written with 8 strokes, 姉 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 6 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 8 strokes under radical 女.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 姉
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 姉 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 姉 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 姉 ("elder sister") is written with 8 strokes (8画) as a JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 女 (おんな (woman)) radical. Written with 8 strokes, 姉 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 6 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 姉?
For 姉 (JLPT N4), the Onyomi is シ and the Kunyomi is あね, はは. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (シ) when 姉 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (あね, はは) when 姉 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 姉 includes 姉 (あね (ane) — elder sister), 姉 (はは (haha) — elder sister).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 姉 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 8 strokes of 姉 (elder sister), 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 姉 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N4 Characters to Practice Next
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