How to Write 汁 (soup, juice, broth, sap, gravy) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 5-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 汁 (“soup, juice, broth, sap, gravy”), indexed under the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical. Practice 汁 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 汁 (しる (shiru) — soup), 汁 (しる (shiru) — soup).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (汁)
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 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ジュウ) when 汁 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (しる, -しる, つゆ) when 汁 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (5画): With only 5 strokes, 汁 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)
Radical: 水 (みず / さんずい (water))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 5 strokes under radical 水.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 汁
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 汁 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 汁 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 汁 ("soup, juice, broth, sap, gravy") is written with 5 strokes (5画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8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, 汁 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 汁?
For 汁 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ジュウ and the Kunyomi is しる, -しる, つゆ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ジュウ) when 汁 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (しる, -しる, つゆ) when 汁 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 汁 includes 汁 (しる (shiru) — soup), 汁 (しる (shiru) — soup).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 汁 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 5 strokes of 汁 (soup, juice, broth, sap, gravy), 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 汁 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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