How to Write 月 (month, moon) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 4-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) character 月 (“month, moon”), indexed under the 月 (つき (moon)) radical. Practice 月 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 月 (つき (tsuki) — moon), 月曜日 (げつようび (getsuyoubi) — Monday), 今月 (こんげつ (kongetsu) — this month).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (月)
Primary Radical (部首): 月 — つき (moon)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 月
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生) (JLPT N5). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ゲツ, ガツ) when 月 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (つき) when 月 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (4画): With only 4 strokes, 月 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 月 (つき (moon)) structure (Standalone / Integrated position) cleanly around the center intersection and finish terminal strokes with crisp tome (stop) or harai (sweep) release.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Moon (月)
An ancient pictograph representing the crescent moon with faint lunar craters, denoting the moon and calendar months.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 月
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 月 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 月 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 月 ("month, moon") is written with 4 strokes (4画) as a JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 月 (つき (moon)) radical. With only 4 strokes, 月 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 月 (つき (moon)) structure (Standalone / Integrated 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 月?
For 月 (JLPT N5), the Onyomi is ゲツ, ガツ and the Kunyomi is つき. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ゲツ, ガツ) when 月 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (つき) when 月 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 月 includes 月 (つき (tsuki) — moon), 月曜日 (げつようび (getsuyoubi) — Monday), 今月 (こんげつ (kongetsu) — this month).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 月 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 4 strokes of 月 (month, moon), start with the 月 (つき (moon)) 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 月 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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