How to Write 様 (Esq., way, manner, situation, polite suffix) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 14-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) character 様 (“Esq., way, manner, situation, polite suffix”), indexed under the 木 (き / きへん (tree)) radical. Practice 様 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 様 (さま (sama) — Esq.), 様 (さん (san) — Esq.).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (様)
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 N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ヨウ, ショウ) when 様 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (さま, さん) when 様 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (14画): At 14 strokes, 様 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 14 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 14 strokes under radical 木.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 様
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 様 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 様 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 様 ("Esq., way, manner, situation, polite suffix") is written with 14 strokes (14画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 木 (き / きへん (tree)) radical. At 14 strokes, 様 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 14 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 様?
For 様 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is ヨウ, ショウ and the Kunyomi is さま, さん. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ヨウ, ショウ) when 様 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (さま, さん) when 様 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 様 includes 様 (さま (sama) — Esq.), 様 (さん (san) — Esq.).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 様 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 14 strokes of 様 (Esq., way, manner, situation, polite suffix), 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 様 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N3 Characters to Practice Next
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