How to Write 河 (river) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 8-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) character 河 (“river”), indexed under the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical. Practice 河 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 河 (かわ (kawa) — river).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (河)
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 5 (小学5年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (カ) when 河 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (かわ) when 河 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (8画): Written with 8 strokes, 河 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 6 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
水 (meaning) + 可 (sound カ)
Derived from the meaning radical 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) and the phonetic component 可, giving the on-reading カ.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 河
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 河 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 河 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 河 ("river") is written with 8 strokes (8画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical. Written with 8 strokes, 河 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 6 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 河?
For 河 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is カ and the Kunyomi is かわ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (カ) when 河 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (かわ) when 河 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 河 includes 河 (かわ (kawa) — river).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 河 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 8 strokes of 河 (river), 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 河 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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