How to Write 拉 (Latin, kidnap, crush) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 8-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 拉 (“Latin, kidnap, crush”), indexed under the 手 (て / てへん (hand)) radical. Practice 拉 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 拉する (らっする (rassuru) — Latin), 拉ぐ (ひしぐ (hishigu) — Latin).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (拉)
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 N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ラツ, ラ, ロウ) when 拉 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (らっ.する, ひし.ぐ, くだ.く) when 拉 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (8画): Written with 8 strokes, 拉 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 手 (て / てへん (hand)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 手 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 6 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
手 (meaning) + 立 (sound リツ)
Derived from the meaning radical 手 (て / てへん (hand)) and the phonetic component 立, giving the on-reading リツ.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 拉
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 拉 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 拉 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 拉 ("Latin, kidnap, crush") is written with 8 strokes (8画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 手 (て / てへん (hand)) radical. Written with 8 strokes, 拉 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 手 (て / てへん (hand)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 手 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 拉?
For 拉 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ラツ, ラ, ロウ and the Kunyomi is らっ.する, ひし.ぐ, くだ.く. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ラツ, ラ, ロウ) when 拉 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (らっ.する, ひし.ぐ, くだ.く) when 拉 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 拉 includes 拉する (らっする (rassuru) — Latin), 拉ぐ (ひしぐ (hishigu) — Latin).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 拉 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 8 strokes of 拉 (Latin, kidnap, crush), 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 拉 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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