How to Write 巳 (sign of the snake or serpent, 9-11AM, sixth sign of Chinese zodiac) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 3-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 9 (小学9年生)) character 巳 (“sign of the snake or serpent, 9-11AM, sixth sign of Chinese zodiac”), indexed under the 己 (おのれ (oneself)) radical. Practice 巳 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 巳 (み (mi) — sign of the snake or serpent).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (巳)
Primary Radical (部首): 己 — おのれ (oneself)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 己
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 9 (小学9年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (シ) when 巳 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (み) when 巳 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (3画): With only 3 strokes, 巳 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 己 (おのれ (oneself)) 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: 己 (おのれ (oneself))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 3 strokes under radical 己.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 巳
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 巳 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 巳 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 巳 ("sign of the snake or serpent, 9-11AM, sixth sign of Chinese zodiac") is written with 3 strokes (3画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 9 (小学9年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 己 (おのれ (oneself)) radical. With only 3 strokes, 巳 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 己 (おのれ (oneself)) 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 巳?
For 巳 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is シ and the Kunyomi is み. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (シ) when 巳 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (み) when 巳 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 巳 includes 巳 (み (mi) — sign of the snake or serpent).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 巳 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 3 strokes of 巳 (sign of the snake or serpent, 9-11AM, sixth sign of Chinese zodiac), start with the 己 (おのれ (oneself)) 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 巳 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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