How to Write 棒 (rod, stick, cane, pole, club) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 12-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) character 棒 (“rod, stick, cane, pole, club”), indexed under the 木 (き / きへん (tree)) radical. Practice 棒 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 棒 (ボウ / ぼう (bou) — rod).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (棒)
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 6 (小学6年生) (JLPT N2). 棒 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ボウ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (12画): At 12 strokes, 棒 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 木 (き / きへん (tree)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 12 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 木 (き / きへん (tree))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 12 strokes under radical 木.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 棒
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 棒 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 棒 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 棒 ("rod, stick, cane, pole, club") is written with 12 strokes (12画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 木 (き / きへん (tree)) radical. At 12 strokes, 棒 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 木 (き / きへん (tree)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 12 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 棒?
For 棒 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is ボウ and the Kunyomi is —. 棒 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ボウ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 棒 includes 棒 (ボウ / ぼう (bou) — rod).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 棒 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 12 strokes of 棒 (rod, stick, cane, pole, club), 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 棒 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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