How to Write 寸 (measurement, tenth of a shaku, a little, small) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 3-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) character 寸 (“measurement, tenth of a shaku, a little, small”), indexed under the 寸 (すん (inch)) radical. Practice 寸 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 寸 (スン / すん (sun) — measurement).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (寸)
Primary Radical (部首): 寸 — すん (inch)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 寸
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生) (JLPT N1). 寸 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (スン) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (3画): With only 3 strokes, 寸 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 寸 (すん (inch)) structure (Standalone / Integrated position) cleanly around the center intersection and finish terminal strokes with crisp tome (stop) or harai (sweep) release.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 寸 (すん (inch))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 3 strokes under radical 寸.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 寸
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 寸 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 寸 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 寸 ("measurement, tenth of a shaku, a little, small") is written with 3 strokes (3画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 寸 (すん (inch)) radical. With only 3 strokes, 寸 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 寸 (すん (inch)) structure (Standalone / Integrated position) cleanly around the center intersection and finish terminal strokes with crisp tome (stop) or harai (sweep) release.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 寸?
For 寸 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is スン and the Kunyomi is —. 寸 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (スン) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 寸 includes 寸 (スン / すん (sun) — measurement).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 寸 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 3 strokes of 寸 (measurement, tenth of a shaku, a little, small), start with the 寸 (すん (inch)) in the Standalone / Integrated (部首) 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 寸 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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