How to Write 済 (settle (debt, etc.), relieve (burden), finish, come to an end, excusable) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 11-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) character 済 (“settle (debt, etc.), relieve (burden), finish, come to an end, excusable”), indexed under the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical. Practice 済 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 済む (すむ (sumu) — settle (debt, etc.)), 済み (ずみ (zumi) — settle (debt, etc.)).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (済)
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 6 (小学6年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (サイ, セイ) when 済 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (す.む, -ず.み, -ずみ, す.まない, す.ます, -す.ます, すく.う, な.す, わたし, わた.る) when 済 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (11画): Written with 11 strokes, 済 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)
Radical: 水 (みず / さんずい (water))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 11 strokes under radical 水.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 済
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 済 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 済 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 済 ("settle (debt, etc.), relieve (burden), finish, come to an end, excusable") is written with 11 strokes (11画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6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, 済 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 済?
For 済 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is サイ, セイ and the Kunyomi is す.む, -ず.み, -ずみ, す.まない, す.ます, -す.ます, すく.う, な.す, わたし, わた.る. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (サイ, セイ) when 済 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (す.む, -ず.み, -ずみ, す.まない, す.ます, -す.ます, すく.う, な.す, わたし, わた.る) when 済 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 済 includes 済む (すむ (sumu) — settle (debt, etc.)), 済み (ずみ (zumi) — settle (debt, etc.)).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 済 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 11 strokes of 済 (settle (debt, etc.), relieve (burden), finish, come to an end, excusable), 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 済 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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