How to Write 始 (commence, begin) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 8-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) character 始 (“commence, begin”), indexed under the 女 (おんな (woman)) radical. Practice 始 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 始める (はじめる (hajimeru) — commence), 始める (はじめる (hajimeru) — commence).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (始)
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 3 (小学3年生) (JLPT N4). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (シ) when 始 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (はじ.める, -はじ.める, はじ.まる) when 始 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (8画): Written with 8 strokes, 始 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 始
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 始 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 始 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 始 ("commence, begin") is written with 8 strokes (8画) as a JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 女 (おんな (woman)) radical. Written with 8 strokes, 始 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 始?
For 始 (JLPT N4), the Onyomi is シ and the Kunyomi is はじ.める, -はじ.める, はじ.まる. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (シ) when 始 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (はじ.める, -はじ.める, はじ.まる) when 始 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 始 includes 始める (はじめる (hajimeru) — commence), 始める (はじめる (hajimeru) — commence).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 始 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 8 strokes of 始 (commence, begin), 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 始 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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