How to Write 林 (grove, forest) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 8-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) character 林 (“grove, forest”), indexed under the 木 (き / きへん (tree)) radical. Practice 林 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 林 (はやし (hayashi) — grove).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (林)
Primary Radical (部首): 木 — き / きへん (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 N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (リン) when 林 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (はやし) when 林 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (8画): Written with 8 strokes, 林 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 木 (き / きへん (tree)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 木 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 6 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
木 + 木
Two trees side-by-side representing a grove or woodland.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 林
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 林 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 林 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 林 ("grove, forest") is written with 8 strokes (8画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 木 (き / きへん (tree)) radical. Written with 8 strokes, 林 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 木 (き / きへん (tree)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 木 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 6 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 林?
For 林 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is リン and the Kunyomi is はやし. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (リン) when 林 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (はやし) when 林 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 林 includes 林 (はやし (hayashi) — grove).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 林 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 8 strokes of 林 (grove, forest), start with the 木 (き / きへん (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 林 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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