How to Write 市 (market, city, town) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 5-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) character 市 (“market, city, town”), indexed under the 巾 (はば (towel)) radical. Practice 市 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 市 (いち (ichi) — market).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (市)
Primary Radical (部首): 巾 — はば (towel)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 巾
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (シ) when 市 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (いち) when 市 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (5画): With only 5 strokes, 市 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 巾 (はば (towel)) 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: 巾 (はば (towel))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 5 strokes under radical 巾.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 市
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 市 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 市 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 市 ("market, city, town") is written with 5 strokes (5画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 巾 (はば (towel)) radical. With only 5 strokes, 市 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 巾 (はば (towel)) 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 市?
For 市 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is シ and the Kunyomi is いち. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (シ) when 市 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (いち) when 市 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 市 includes 市 (いち (ichi) — market).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 市 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 5 strokes of 市 (market, city, town), start with the 巾 (はば (towel)) 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 市 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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