How to Write 楽 (music, comfort, ease) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 13-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) character 楽 (“music, comfort, ease”), indexed under the 木 (き / きへん (tree)) radical. Practice 楽 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 楽しい (たのしい (tanoshii) — music), 楽しむ (たのしむ (tanoshimu) — music).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (楽)
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 2 (小学2年生) (JLPT N4). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ガク, ラク, ゴウ) when 楽 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (たの.しい, たの.しむ, この.む) when 楽 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (13画): At 13 strokes, 楽 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 13 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 13 strokes under radical 木.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 楽
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 楽 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 楽 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 楽 ("music, comfort, ease") is written with 13 strokes (13画) as a JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 木 (き / きへん (tree)) radical. At 13 strokes, 楽 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 13 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 楽?
For 楽 (JLPT N4), the Onyomi is ガク, ラク, ゴウ and the Kunyomi is たの.しい, たの.しむ, この.む. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ガク, ラク, ゴウ) when 楽 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (たの.しい, たの.しむ, この.む) when 楽 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 楽 includes 楽しい (たのしい (tanoshii) — music), 楽しむ (たのしむ (tanoshimu) — music).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 楽 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 13 strokes of 楽 (music, comfort, ease), 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 楽 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N4 Characters to Practice Next
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