How to Write 岩 (boulder, rock, cliff) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 8-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) character 岩 (“boulder, rock, cliff”), indexed under the 山 (やま (mountain)) radical. Practice 岩 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 岩 (いわ (iwa) — boulder).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (岩)
Primary Radical (部首): 山 — やま (mountain)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 山
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ガン) when 岩 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (いわ) when 岩 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (8画): Written with 8 strokes, 岩 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 山 (やま (mountain)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 山 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 6 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 山 (やま (mountain))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 8 strokes under radical 山.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 岩
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 岩 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 岩 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 岩 ("boulder, rock, cliff") is written with 8 strokes (8画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 山 (やま (mountain)) radical. Written with 8 strokes, 岩 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 山 (やま (mountain)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 山 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 岩?
For 岩 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is ガン and the Kunyomi is いわ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ガン) when 岩 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (いわ) when 岩 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 岩 includes 岩 (いわ (iwa) — boulder).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 岩 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 8 strokes of 岩 (boulder, rock, cliff), 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 岩 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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