How to Write 木 (tree, wood) — 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 木 (“tree, wood”), indexed under the 木 (き (tree)) radical. Practice 木 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 木 (き (ki) — tree), 木曜日 (もくようび (mokuyoubi) — Thursday).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (木)
Primary Radical (部首): 木 — き (tree)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Trees, plants, wooden artifacts, and forest nature
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生) (JLPT N5). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ボク, モク) when 木 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (き, こ-) when 木 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (4画): With only 4 strokes, 木 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 木 (き (tree)) structure (Left (Hen / 偏) position) cleanly around the center intersection and finish terminal strokes with crisp tome (stop) or harai (sweep) release.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Tree (木)
Depicts a tree with its canopy branches stretching upward and its roots anchored into the ground.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 木
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 木 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 木 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 木 ("tree, wood") 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 木 (き (tree)) radical. With only 4 strokes, 木 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 木 (き (tree)) structure (Left (Hen / 偏) 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 木?
For 木 (JLPT N5), the Onyomi is ボク, モク and the Kunyomi is き, こ-. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ボク, モク) when 木 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (き, こ-) when 木 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 木 includes 木 (き (ki) — tree), 木曜日 (もくようび (mokuyoubi) — Thursday).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 木 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 4 strokes of 木 (tree, wood), start with the 木 (き (tree)) 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 木 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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