How to Write 歌 (song, sing) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 14-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) character 歌 (“song, sing”), indexed under the 欠 (あくび (lack/yawn)) radical. Practice 歌 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 歌 (うた (uta) — song), 歌う (うたう (utau) — song).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (歌)
Primary Radical (部首): 欠 — あくび (lack/yawn)
Radical Position: Right (Tsukuri / 旁) (旁 (Tsukuri))
Semantic Theme: Breathing out, yearning, singing, and deficiency
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生) (JLPT N4). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (カ) when 歌 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (うた, うた.う) when 歌 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (14画): At 14 strokes, 歌 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 欠 (あくび (lack/yawn)) radical (Right (Tsukuri / 旁) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 14 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
欠 (meaning) + 可 (sound カ)
Derived from the meaning radical 欠 (あくび (lack/yawn)) and the phonetic component 可, giving the on-reading カ.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 歌
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 歌 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 歌 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 歌 ("song, sing") is written with 14 strokes (14画) as a JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 欠 (あくび (lack/yawn)) radical. At 14 strokes, 歌 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 欠 (あくび (lack/yawn)) radical (Right (Tsukuri / 旁) 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 歌?
For 歌 (JLPT N4), the Onyomi is カ and the Kunyomi is うた, うた.う. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (カ) when 歌 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (うた, うた.う) when 歌 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 歌 includes 歌 (うた (uta) — song), 歌う (うたう (utau) — song).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 歌 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 14 strokes of 歌 (song, sing), start with the 欠 (あくび (lack/yawn)) in the Right (Tsukuri / 旁) (旁 (Tsukuri)) 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 歌 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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