How to Write 戦 (war, battle, match) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 13-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) character 戦 (“war, battle, match”), indexed under the 戈 (かのほこ (spear)) radical. Practice 戦 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 戦 (いくさ (ikusa) — war), 戦う (たたかう (tatakau) — war).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (戦)
Primary Radical (部首): 戈 — かのほこ (spear)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 戈
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (セン) when 戦 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (いくさ, たたか.う, おのの.く, そよ.ぐ, わなな.く) when 戦 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (13画): At 13 strokes, 戦 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 戈 (かのほこ (spear)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 13 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 戈 (かのほこ (spear))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 13 strokes under radical 戈.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 戦
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 戦 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 戦 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 戦 ("war, battle, match") is written with 13 strokes (13画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 戈 (かのほこ (spear)) radical. At 13 strokes, 戦 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 戈 (かのほこ (spear)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 13 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 戦?
For 戦 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is セン and the Kunyomi is いくさ, たたか.う, おのの.く, そよ.ぐ, わなな.く. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (セン) when 戦 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (いくさ, たたか.う, おのの.く, そよ.ぐ, わなな.く) when 戦 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 戦 includes 戦 (いくさ (ikusa) — war), 戦う (たたかう (tatakau) — war).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 戦 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 13 strokes of 戦 (war, battle, match), start with the 戈 (かのほこ (spear)) 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 戦 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N3 Characters to Practice Next
View Full JLPT N3 Kanji List →Unlock All 2,000+ JLPT N5–N1 Kanji, AI Sensei & Unlimited Genkō Yōshi PDF Books
Get lifetime access to all 2,136 Jōyō Kanji (JLPT N5–N1), AI Kanji Sensei mnemonics, and unlimited Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheets for a one-time payment of $17.99 USD (10% OFF the $19.99 Lifetime Pro Pass with promo code KANJI10). Zero monthly subscriptions!