How to Write 昌 (prosperous, bright, clear) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 8-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 9 (小学9年生)) character 昌 (“prosperous, bright, clear”), indexed under the 日 (ひ / にち (sun/day)) radical. Practice 昌 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 昌 (さかん (sakan) — prosperous).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (昌)
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 9 (小学9年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ショウ) when 昌 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (さかん) when 昌 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (8画): Written with 8 strokes, 昌 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 日 (ひ / にち (sun/day)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 日 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 6 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 日 (ひ / にち (sun/day))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 8 strokes under radical 日.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 昌
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 昌 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 昌 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 昌 ("prosperous, bright, clear") is written with 8 strokes (8画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 9 (小学9年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 日 (ひ / にち (sun/day)) radical. Written with 8 strokes, 昌 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 日 (ひ / にち (sun/day)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 日 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 6 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 昌?
For 昌 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ショウ and the Kunyomi is さかん. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ショウ) when 昌 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (さかん) when 昌 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 昌 includes 昌 (さかん (sakan) — prosperous).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 昌 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 8 strokes of 昌 (prosperous, bright, clear), 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 昌 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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