How to Write 性 (sex, gender, nature) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 8-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) character 性 (“sex, gender, nature”), indexed under the 心 (こころ / りっしんべん (heart)) radical. Practice 性 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 性 (さが (saga) — sex).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (性)
Primary Radical (部首): 心 — こころ / りっしんべん (heart)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Heart, thoughts, emotions, and psychological states
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (セイ, ショウ) when 性 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (さが) when 性 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (8画): Written with 8 strokes, 性 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 心 (こころ / りっしんべん (heart)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 心 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 6 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
心 (meaning) + 生 (sound セイ)
Derived from the meaning radical 心 (こころ / りっしんべん (heart)) and the phonetic component 生, giving the on-reading セイ / ショウ.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 性
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 性 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 性 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 性 ("sex, gender, nature") is written with 8 strokes (8画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 心 (こころ / りっしんべん (heart)) radical. Written with 8 strokes, 性 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 心 (こころ / りっしんべん (heart)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 心 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 性?
For 性 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is セイ, ショウ and the Kunyomi is さが. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (セイ, ショウ) when 性 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (さが) when 性 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 性 includes 性 (さが (saga) — sex).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 性 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 8 strokes of 性 (sex, gender, nature), start with the 心 (こころ / りっしんべん (heart)) in the Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen)) 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 性 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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