How to Write 死 (death, die) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 6-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) character 死 (“death, die”), indexed under the 歹 (がつへん (death)) radical. Practice 死 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 死ぬ (しぬ (shinu) — death), 死に (しに (shini) — death).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (死)
Primary Radical (部首): 歹 — がつへん (death)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 歹
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生) (JLPT N4). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (シ) when 死 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (し.ぬ, し.に-) when 死 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (6画): Written with 6 strokes, 死 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 歹 (がつへん (death)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 歹 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 4 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 歹 (がつへん (death))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 6 strokes under radical 歹.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 死
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 死 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 死 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 死 ("death, die") is written with 6 strokes (6画) as a JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 歹 (がつへん (death)) radical. Written with 6 strokes, 死 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 歹 (がつへん (death)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 歹 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 4 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 死?
For 死 (JLPT N4), the Onyomi is シ and the Kunyomi is し.ぬ, し.に-. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (シ) when 死 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (し.ぬ, し.に-) when 死 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 死 includes 死ぬ (しぬ (shinu) — death), 死に (しに (shini) — death).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 死 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 6 strokes of 死 (death, die), start with the 歹 (がつへん (death)) 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 死 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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