How to Write 正 (correct, justice, righteous, 10**40) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 5-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) character 正 (“correct, justice, righteous, 10**40”), indexed under the 止 (とめる (stop)) radical. Practice 正 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 正しい (ただしい (tadashii) — correct), 正す (ただす (tadasu) — correct).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (正)
Primary Radical (部首): 止 — とめる (stop)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 止
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生) (JLPT N4). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (セイ, ショウ) when 正 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ただ.しい, ただ.す, まさ, まさ.に) when 正 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (5画): With only 5 strokes, 正 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 止 (とめる (stop)) structure (Standalone / Integrated position) cleanly around the center intersection and finish terminal strokes with crisp tome (stop) or harai (sweep) release.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 止 (とめる (stop))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 5 strokes under radical 止.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 正
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 正 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 正 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 正 ("correct, justice, righteous, 10**40") is written with 5 strokes (5画) as a JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 止 (とめる (stop)) radical. With only 5 strokes, 正 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 止 (とめる (stop)) structure (Standalone / Integrated position) cleanly around the center intersection and finish terminal strokes with crisp tome (stop) or harai (sweep) release.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 正?
For 正 (JLPT N4), the Onyomi is セイ, ショウ and the Kunyomi is ただ.しい, ただ.す, まさ, まさ.に. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (セイ, ショウ) when 正 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ただ.しい, ただ.す, まさ, まさ.に) when 正 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 正 includes 正しい (ただしい (tadashii) — correct), 正す (ただす (tadasu) — correct).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 正 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 5 strokes of 正 (correct, justice, righteous, 10**40), start with the 止 (とめる (stop)) in the Standalone / Integrated (部首) 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 正 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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