How to Write 昨 (yesterday, previous) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 9-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) character 昨 (“yesterday, previous”), indexed under the 日 (ひ / にち (sun/day)) radical. Practice 昨 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 昨 (サク / さく (saku) — yesterday).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (昨)
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 4 (小学4年生) (JLPT N3). 昨 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (サク) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (9画): Written with 9 strokes, 昨 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 7 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 9 strokes under radical 日.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 昨
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 昨 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 昨 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 昨 ("yesterday, previous") is written with 9 strokes (9画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 日 (ひ / にち (sun/day)) radical. Written with 9 strokes, 昨 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 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 昨?
For 昨 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is サク and the Kunyomi is —. 昨 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (サク) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 昨 includes 昨 (サク / さく (saku) — yesterday).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 昨 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 9 strokes of 昨 (yesterday, previous), 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 昨 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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