How to Write 氷 (icicle, ice, hail, freeze, congeal) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 5-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) character 氷 (“icicle, ice, hail, freeze, congeal”), indexed under the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical. Practice 氷 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 氷 (こおり (koori) — icicle), 氷 (ひ (hi) — icicle).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (氷)
Primary Radical (部首): 水 — みず / さんずい (water)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Water, rivers, liquids, and cleansing
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ヒョウ) when 氷 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (こおり, ひ, こお.る) when 氷 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (5画): With only 5 strokes, 氷 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) structure (Left (Hen / 偏) position) cleanly around the center intersection and finish terminal strokes with crisp tome (stop) or harai (sweep) release.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
水 (meaning) + 水 (sound スイ)
Derived from the meaning radical 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) and the phonetic component 水, giving the on-reading スイ.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 氷
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 氷 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 氷 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 氷 ("icicle, ice, hail, freeze, congeal") is written with 5 strokes (5画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical. With only 5 strokes, 氷 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) structure (Left (Hen / 偏) 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 氷?
For 氷 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is ヒョウ and the Kunyomi is こおり, ひ, こお.る. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ヒョウ) when 氷 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (こおり, ひ, こお.る) when 氷 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 氷 includes 氷 (こおり (koori) — icicle), 氷 (ひ (hi) — icicle).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 氷 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 5 strokes of 氷 (icicle, ice, hail, freeze, congeal), start with the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) 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 氷 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N2 Characters to Practice Next
View Full JLPT N2 Kanji List →Unlock All 2,000+ JLPT N5–N1 Kanji, AI Sensei & Unlimited Genkō Yōshi PDF Books
Get lifetime access to all 2,136 Jōyō Kanji (JLPT N5–N1), AI Kanji Sensei mnemonics, and unlimited Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheets for a one-time payment of $17.99 USD (10% OFF the $19.99 Lifetime Pro Pass with promo code KANJI10). Zero monthly subscriptions!