How to Write 宇 (eaves, roof, house, heaven) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 6-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) character 宇 (“eaves, roof, house, heaven”), indexed under the 宀 (うかんむり (roof)) radical. Practice 宇 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 宇 (ウ / う (u) — eaves).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (宇)
Primary Radical (部首): 宀 — うかんむり (roof)
Radical Position: Top (Kanmuri / 冠) (冠 (Kanmuri))
Semantic Theme: Roofs, buildings, houses, shelter, and enclosures
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生) (JLPT N2). 宇 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ウ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (6画): Written with 6 strokes, 宇 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 宀 (うかんむり (roof)) radical (Top (Kanmuri / 冠) position). Establish the 宀 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: 宀 (うかんむり (roof))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 6 strokes under radical 宀.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 宇
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 宇 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 宇 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 宇 ("eaves, roof, house, heaven") is written with 6 strokes (6画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 宀 (うかんむり (roof)) radical. Written with 6 strokes, 宇 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 宀 (うかんむり (roof)) radical (Top (Kanmuri / 冠) position). Establish the 宀 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 宇?
For 宇 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is ウ and the Kunyomi is —. 宇 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ウ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 宇 includes 宇 (ウ / う (u) — eaves).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 宇 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 6 strokes of 宇 (eaves, roof, house, heaven), start with the 宀 (うかんむり (roof)) in the Top (Kanmuri / 冠) (冠 (Kanmuri)) 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 宇 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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