How to Write 掃 (sweep, brush) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 11-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 掃 (“sweep, brush”), indexed under the 手 (て / てへん (hand)) radical. Practice 掃 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 掃く (はく (haku) — sweep).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (掃)
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 N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ソウ, シュ) when 掃 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (は.く) when 掃 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (11画): Written with 11 strokes, 掃 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 掃
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 掃 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 掃 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 掃 ("sweep, brush") is written with 11 strokes (11画) as a JLPT N2 (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 11 strokes, 掃 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 掃?
For 掃 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is ソウ, シュ and the Kunyomi is は.く. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ソウ, シュ) when 掃 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (は.く) when 掃 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 掃 includes 掃く (はく (haku) — sweep).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 掃 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 11 strokes of 掃 (sweep, brush), 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 掃 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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