How to Write 沙 (sand) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 7-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 沙 (“sand”), indexed under the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical. Practice 沙 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 沙 (すな (suna) — sand), 沙 (よなげる (yonageru) — sand).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (沙)
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 (サ, シャ) when 沙 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (すな, よなげる) when 沙 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (7画): Written with 7 strokes, 沙 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 水 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 5 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 水 (みず / さんずい (water))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 7 strokes under radical 水.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 沙
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 沙 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 沙 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 沙 ("sand") is written with 7 strokes (7画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical. Written with 7 strokes, 沙 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 水 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 5 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 沙?
For 沙 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is サ, シャ and the Kunyomi is すな, よなげる. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (サ, シャ) when 沙 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (すな, よなげる) when 沙 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 沙 includes 沙 (すな (suna) — sand), 沙 (よなげる (yonageru) — sand).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 沙 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 7 strokes of 沙 (sand), 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 沙 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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