How to Write 断 (severance, decline, refuse, apologize, warn) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 11-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) character 断 (“severance, decline, refuse, apologize, warn”), indexed under the 斤 (おの (axe)) radical. Practice 断 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 断つ (たつ (tatsu) — severance), 断る (ことわる (kotowaru) — severance).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (断)
Primary Radical (部首): 斤 — おの (axe)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 斤
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ダン) when 断 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (た.つ, ことわ.る, さだ.める) when 断 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (11画): Written with 11 strokes, 断 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 斤 (おの (axe)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 斤 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: 斤 (おの (axe))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 11 strokes under radical 斤.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 断
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 断 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 断 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 断 ("severance, decline, refuse, apologize, warn") is written with 11 strokes (11画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 斤 (おの (axe)) radical. Written with 11 strokes, 断 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 斤 (おの (axe)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 斤 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 断?
For 断 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is ダン and the Kunyomi is た.つ, ことわ.る, さだ.める. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ダン) when 断 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (た.つ, ことわ.る, さだ.める) when 断 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 断 includes 断つ (たつ (tatsu) — severance), 断る (ことわる (kotowaru) — severance).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 断 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 11 strokes of 断 (severance, decline, refuse, apologize, warn), start with the 斤 (おの (axe)) 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 断 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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