How to Write 姓 (surname) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 8-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 姓 (“surname”), indexed under the 女 (おんな (woman)) radical. Practice 姓 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 姓 (セイ / せい (sei) — surname).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (姓)
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 N2). 姓 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (セイ, ショウ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (8画): Written with 8 strokes, 姓 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)
女 (meaning) + 生 (sound セイ)
Derived from the meaning radical 女 (おんな (woman)) and the phonetic component 生, giving the on-reading セイ / ショウ.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 姓
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 姓 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 姓 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 姓 ("surname") is written with 8 strokes (8画) as a JLPT N2 (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 8 strokes, 姓 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 姓?
For 姓 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is セイ, ショウ and the Kunyomi is —. 姓 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (セイ, ショウ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 姓 includes 姓 (セイ / せい (sei) — surname).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 姓 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 8 strokes of 姓 (surname), 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 姓 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N2 Characters to Practice Next
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