How to Write 工 (craft, construction, katakana e radical (no. 48)) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 3-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) character 工 (“craft, construction, katakana e radical (no. 48)”), indexed under the 工 (こう (work)) radical. Practice 工 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 工 (コウ / こう (kou) — craft).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (工)
Primary Radical (部首): 工 — こう (work)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 工
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生) (JLPT N4). 工 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (コウ, ク, グ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (3画): With only 3 strokes, 工 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 工 (こう (work)) 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: 工 (こう (work))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 3 strokes under radical 工.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 工
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 工 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 工 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 工 ("craft, construction, katakana e radical (no. 48)") is written with 3 strokes (3画) as a JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 工 (こう (work)) radical. With only 3 strokes, 工 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 工 (こう (work)) 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 工?
For 工 (JLPT N4), the Onyomi is コウ, ク, グ and the Kunyomi is —. 工 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (コウ, ク, グ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 工 includes 工 (コウ / こう (kou) — craft).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 工 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 3 strokes of 工 (craft, construction, katakana e radical (no. 48)), start with the 工 (こう (work)) 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 工 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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