How to Write 書 (write) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 10-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) character 書 (“write”), indexed under the 曰 (ひらび (say)) radical. Practice 書 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 書く (かく (kaku) — to write), 読書 (どくしょ (dokusho) — reading books), 図書館 (としょかん (toshokan) — library).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (書)
Primary Radical (部首): 曰 — ひらび (say)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 曰
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生) (JLPT N5). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ショ) when 書 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (か.く) when 書 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (10画): Written with 10 strokes, 書 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 曰 (ひらび (say)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 曰 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 8 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 曰 (ひらび (say))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 10 strokes under radical 曰.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 書
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 書 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 書 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 書 ("write") is written with 10 strokes (10画) as a JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 曰 (ひらび (say)) radical. Written with 10 strokes, 書 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 曰 (ひらび (say)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 曰 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 8 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 書?
For 書 (JLPT N5), the Onyomi is ショ and the Kunyomi is か.く. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ショ) when 書 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (か.く) when 書 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 書 includes 書く (かく (kaku) — to write), 読書 (どくしょ (dokusho) — reading books), 図書館 (としょかん (toshokan) — library).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 書 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 10 strokes of 書 (write), start with the 曰 (ひらび (say)) in the Standalone / Integrated (部首) 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 書 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N5 Characters to Practice Next
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