How to Write 明 (bright, light) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 8-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) character 明 (“bright, light”), indexed under the 日 (ひ / にち (sun/day)) radical. Practice 明 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 明かり (あかり (akari) — bright), 明るい (あかるい (akarui) — bright).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (明)
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 2 (小学2年生) (JLPT N4). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (メイ, ミョウ, ミン) when 明 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (あ.かり, あか.るい, あか.るむ, あか.らむ, あき.らか, あ.ける, -あ.け, あ.く, あ.くる, あ.かす) when 明 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (8画): Written with 8 strokes, 明 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)
日 (sun) + 月 (moon)
Combines the two brightest celestial bodies, the sun (日) and the moon (月), symbolizing brilliance and brightness.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 明
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 明 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 明 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 明 ("bright, light") is written with 8 strokes (8画) as a JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 日 (ひ / にち (sun/day)) radical. Written with 8 strokes, 明 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 明?
For 明 (JLPT N4), the Onyomi is メイ, ミョウ, ミン and the Kunyomi is あ.かり, あか.るい, あか.るむ, あか.らむ, あき.らか, あ.ける, -あ.け, あ.く, あ.くる, あ.かす. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (メイ, ミョウ, ミン) when 明 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (あ.かり, あか.るい, あか.るむ, あか.らむ, あき.らか, あ.ける, -あ.け, あ.く, あ.くる, あ.かす) when 明 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 明 includes 明かり (あかり (akari) — bright), 明るい (あかるい (akarui) — bright).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 明 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 8 strokes of 明 (bright, light), 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 明 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N4 Characters to Practice Next
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