How to Write 屋 (roof, house, shop, dealer, seller) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 9-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) character 屋 (“roof, house, shop, dealer, seller”), indexed under the 尸 (しかばね (corpse)) radical. Practice 屋 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 屋 (や (ya) — roof).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (屋)
Primary Radical (部首): 尸 — しかばね (corpse)
Radical Position: Hanging (Tare / 垂) (垂 (Tare))
Semantic Theme: Body postures, dwellings, screens, and coverings
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生) (JLPT N4). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (オク) when 屋 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (や) when 屋 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (9画): Written with 9 strokes, 屋 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 尸 (しかばね (corpse)) radical (Hanging (Tare / 垂) position). Establish the 尸 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 尸 (しかばね (corpse))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 9 strokes under radical 尸.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 屋
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 屋 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 屋 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 屋 ("roof, house, shop, dealer, seller") is written with 9 strokes (9画) as a JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 尸 (しかばね (corpse)) radical. Written with 9 strokes, 屋 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 尸 (しかばね (corpse)) radical (Hanging (Tare / 垂) position). Establish the 尸 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 屋?
For 屋 (JLPT N4), the Onyomi is オク and the Kunyomi is や. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (オク) when 屋 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (や) when 屋 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 屋 includes 屋 (や (ya) — roof).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 屋 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 9 strokes of 屋 (roof, house, shop, dealer, seller), start with the 尸 (しかばね (corpse)) in the Hanging (Tare / 垂) (垂 (Tare)) 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 屋 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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