How to Write 清 (pure, purify, cleanse, exorcise, Manchu dynasty) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 11-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) character 清 (“pure, purify, cleanse, exorcise, Manchu dynasty”), indexed under the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical. Practice 清 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 清い (きよい (kiyoi) — pure), 清まる (きよまる (kiyomaru) — pure).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (清)
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 4 (小学4年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (セイ, ショウ, シン) when 清 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (きよ.い, きよ.まる, きよ.める) when 清 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (11画): Written with 11 strokes, 清 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 9 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
氵 (water) + 青 (phonetic SEI)
The water radical (氵) indicates liquid, while 青 (SEI) provides the sound and connotations of pure green-blue clarity.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 清
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 清 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 清 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 清 ("pure, purify, cleanse, exorcise, Manchu dynasty") is written with 11 strokes (11画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical. Written with 11 strokes, 清 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 9 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 清?
For 清 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is セイ, ショウ, シン and the Kunyomi is きよ.い, きよ.まる, きよ.める. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (セイ, ショウ, シン) when 清 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (きよ.い, きよ.まる, きよ.める) when 清 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 清 includes 清い (きよい (kiyoi) — pure), 清まる (きよまる (kiyomaru) — pure).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 清 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 11 strokes of 清 (pure, purify, cleanse, exorcise, Manchu dynasty), 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 清 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N2 Characters to Practice Next
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