How to Write 枢 (hinge, pivot, door, center of things) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 8-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 枢 (“hinge, pivot, door, center of things”), indexed under the 木 (き / きへん (tree)) radical. Practice 枢 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 枢 (とぼそ (toboso) — hinge), 枢 (からくり (karakuri) — hinge).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (枢)
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 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (スウ, シュ) when 枢 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (とぼそ, からくり) when 枢 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (8画): Written with 8 strokes, 枢 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)
Radical: 木 (き / きへん (tree))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 8 strokes under radical 木.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 枢
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 枢 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 枢 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 枢 ("hinge, pivot, door, center of things") is written with 8 strokes (8画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 木 (き / きへん (tree)) radical. Written with 8 strokes, 枢 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 枢?
For 枢 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is スウ, シュ and the Kunyomi is とぼそ, からくり. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (スウ, シュ) when 枢 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (とぼそ, からくり) when 枢 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 枢 includes 枢 (とぼそ (toboso) — hinge), 枢 (からくり (karakuri) — hinge).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 枢 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 8 strokes of 枢 (hinge, pivot, door, center of things), 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 枢 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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