How to Write 日 (day, sun, Japan, counter for days) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 4-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) character 日 (“day, sun, Japan, counter for days”), indexed under the 日 (ひ (sun)) radical. Practice 日 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 日本 (にほん (nihon) — Japan), 今日 (きょう (kyou) — today), 日曜日 (にちようび (nichiyoubi) — Sunday).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (日)
Primary Radical (部首): 日 — ひ (sun)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Sun, daylight, time, brightness, and warmth
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生) (JLPT N5). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ニチ, ジツ) when 日 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ひ, -び, -か) when 日 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (4画): With only 4 strokes, 日 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 日 (ひ (sun)) 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)
Sun (日)
An ancient pictograph depicting the sun as a circle with a central sunspot, originally representing the sun and by extension a single day.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 日
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 日 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 日 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 日 ("day, sun, Japan, counter for days") is written with 4 strokes (4画) as a JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 日 (ひ (sun)) radical. With only 4 strokes, 日 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 日 (ひ (sun)) 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 日?
For 日 (JLPT N5), the Onyomi is ニチ, ジツ and the Kunyomi is ひ, -び, -か. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ニチ, ジツ) when 日 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ひ, -び, -か) when 日 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 日 includes 日本 (にほん (nihon) — Japan), 今日 (きょう (kyou) — today), 日曜日 (にちようび (nichiyoubi) — Sunday).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 日 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 4 strokes of 日 (day, sun, Japan, counter for days), start with the 日 (ひ (sun)) 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 日 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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