How to Write 械 (contraption, fetter, machine, instrument) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 11-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) character 械 (“contraption, fetter, machine, instrument”), indexed under the 木 (き / きへん (tree)) radical. Practice 械 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 械 (かせ (kase) — contraption).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (械)
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 4 (小学4年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (カイ) when 械 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (かせ) when 械 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (11画): Written with 11 strokes, 械 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 9 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 11 strokes under radical 木.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 械
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 械 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 械 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 械 ("contraption, fetter, machine, instrument") is written with 11 strokes (11画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 木 (き / きへん (tree)) radical. Written with 11 strokes, 械 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 9 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 械?
For 械 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is カイ and the Kunyomi is かせ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (カイ) when 械 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (かせ) when 械 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 械 includes 械 (かせ (kase) — contraption).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 械 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 11 strokes of 械 (contraption, fetter, machine, instrument), 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 械 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N2 Characters to Practice Next
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