How to Write 柱 (pillar, post, cylinder, support) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 9-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) character 柱 (“pillar, post, cylinder, support”), indexed under the 木 (き / きへん (tree)) radical. Practice 柱 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 柱 (はしら (hashira) — pillar).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (柱)
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 3 (小学3年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (チュウ) when 柱 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (はしら) when 柱 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (9画): Written with 9 strokes, 柱 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 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
木 (meaning) + 主 (sound シュ)
Derived from the meaning radical 木 (き / きへん (tree)) and the phonetic component 主, giving the on-reading シュ / ス.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 柱
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 柱 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 柱 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 柱 ("pillar, post, cylinder, support") is written with 9 strokes (9画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 木 (き / きへん (tree)) radical. Written with 9 strokes, 柱 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 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 柱?
For 柱 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is チュウ and the Kunyomi is はしら. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (チュウ) when 柱 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (はしら) when 柱 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 柱 includes 柱 (はしら (hashira) — pillar).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 柱 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 9 strokes of 柱 (pillar, post, cylinder, support), 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 柱 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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