How to Write 旧 (old times, old things, old friend, former, ex-) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 5-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) character 旧 (“old times, old things, old friend, former, ex-”), indexed under the 日 (ひ / にち (sun/day)) radical. Practice 旧 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 旧い (ふるい (furui) — old times), 旧 (もと (moto) — old times).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (旧)
Primary Radical (部首): 日 — ひ / にち (sun/day)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Sun, daylight, time, brightness, and warmth
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (キュウ) when 旧 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ふる.い, もと) when 旧 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (5画): With only 5 strokes, 旧 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 / にち (sun/day)) 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)
Radical: 日 (ひ / にち (sun/day))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 5 strokes under radical 日.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 旧
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 旧 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 旧 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 旧 ("old times, old things, old friend, former, ex-") is written with 5 strokes (5画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 日 (ひ / にち (sun/day)) radical. With only 5 strokes, 旧 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 / にち (sun/day)) 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 旧?
For 旧 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is キュウ and the Kunyomi is ふる.い, もと. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (キュウ) when 旧 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ふる.い, もと) when 旧 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 旧 includes 旧い (ふるい (furui) — old times), 旧 (もと (moto) — old times).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 旧 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 5 strokes of 旧 (old times, old things, old friend, former, ex-), start with the 日 (ひ / にち (sun/day)) 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 旧 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N2 Characters to Practice Next
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