How to Write 山 (mountain) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 3-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) character 山 (“mountain”), indexed under the 山 (やま (mountain)) radical. Practice 山 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 富士山 (ふじさん (fujisan) — Mount Fuji), 山登り (やまのぼり (yamanobori) — mountain climbing), 火山 (かざん (kazan) — volcano).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (山)
Primary Radical (部首): 山 — やま (mountain)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 山
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生) (JLPT N5). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (サン, セン) when 山 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (やま) when 山 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (3画): With only 3 strokes, 山 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 山 (やま (mountain)) 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)
Mountain (山)
A direct drawing of three jagged mountain peaks rising against the horizon.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 山
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 山 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 山 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 山 ("mountain") is written with 3 strokes (3画) as a JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 山 (やま (mountain)) radical. With only 3 strokes, 山 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 山 (やま (mountain)) 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 山?
For 山 (JLPT N5), the Onyomi is サン, セン and the Kunyomi is やま. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (サン, セン) when 山 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (やま) when 山 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 山 includes 富士山 (ふじさん (fujisan) — Mount Fuji), 山登り (やまのぼり (yamanobori) — mountain climbing), 火山 (かざん (kazan) — volcano).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 山 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 3 strokes of 山 (mountain), start with the 山 (やま (mountain)) 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 山 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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