How to Write 本 (book, origin, main, counter for long cylindrical things) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 5-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) character 本 (“book, origin, main, counter for long cylindrical things”), indexed under the 木 (き (tree)) radical. Practice 本 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 本 (ほん (hon) — book), 本当 (ほんとう (hontou) — truth / real), 日本語 (にほんご (nihongo) — Japanese language).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (本)
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 (ホン) when 本 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (もと) when 本 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (5画): With only 5 strokes, 本 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)
木 (meaning) + 木 (sound モク)
Derived from the meaning radical 木 (き (tree)) and the phonetic component 木, giving the on-reading モク / ボク.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 本
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 本 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 本 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 本 ("book, origin, main, counter for long cylindrical things") is written with 5 strokes (5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 5 strokes, 本 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 本?
For 本 (JLPT N5), the Onyomi is ホン and the Kunyomi is もと. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ホン) when 本 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (もと) when 本 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 本 includes 本 (ほん (hon) — book), 本当 (ほんとう (hontou) — truth / real), 日本語 (にほんご (nihongo) — Japanese language).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 本 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 5 strokes of 本 (book, origin, main, counter for long cylindrical things), 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 本 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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