How to Write 捺 (press, print, affix a seal, stamp) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 11-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 9 (小学9年生)) character 捺 (“press, print, affix a seal, stamp”), indexed under the 手 (て / てへん (hand)) radical. Practice 捺 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 捺す (さす (sasu) — press), 捺す (おす (osu) — press).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (捺)
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 9 (小学9年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ナツ, ダツ) when 捺 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (さ.す, お.す) when 捺 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (11画): Written with 11 strokes, 捺 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 9 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 手 (て / てへん (hand))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 11 strokes under radical 手.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 捺
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 捺 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 捺 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 捺 ("press, print, affix a seal, stamp") is written with 11 strokes (11画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 9 (小学9年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 手 (て / てへん (hand)) radical. Written with 11 strokes, 捺 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 9 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 捺?
For 捺 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ナツ, ダツ and the Kunyomi is さ.す, お.す. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ナツ, ダツ) when 捺 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (さ.す, お.す) when 捺 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 捺 includes 捺す (さす (sasu) — press), 捺す (おす (osu) — press).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 捺 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 11 strokes of 捺 (press, print, affix a seal, stamp), 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 捺 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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