How to Write 払 (pay, clear out, prune, banish, dispose of) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 5-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 払 (“pay, clear out, prune, banish, dispose of”), indexed under the 手 (て / てへん (hand)) radical. Practice 払 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 払う (はらう (harau) — pay), 払い (はらい (harai) — pay).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (払)
Primary Radical (部首): 手 — て / てへん (hand)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Hands, holding, grasping, craft, and manual action
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (フツ, ヒツ, ホツ) when 払 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (はら.う, -はら.い, -ばら.い) when 払 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (5画): With only 5 strokes, 払 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 手 (て / てへん (hand)) structure (Left (Hen / 偏) 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: 手 (て / てへん (hand))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 5 strokes under radical 手.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 払
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 払 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 払 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 払 ("pay, clear out, prune, banish, dispose of") is written with 5 strokes (5画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 手 (て / てへん (hand)) radical. With only 5 strokes, 払 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 手 (て / てへん (hand)) structure (Left (Hen / 偏) 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 払?
For 払 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is フツ, ヒツ, ホツ and the Kunyomi is はら.う, -はら.い, -ばら.い. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (フツ, ヒツ, ホツ) when 払 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (はら.う, -はら.い, -ばら.い) when 払 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 払 includes 払う (はらう (harau) — pay), 払い (はらい (harai) — pay).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 払 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 5 strokes of 払 (pay, clear out, prune, banish, dispose of), start with the 手 (て / てへん (hand)) 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 払 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N3 Characters to Practice Next
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