How to Write 湖 (lake) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 12-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) character 湖 (“lake”), indexed under the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical. Practice 湖 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 湖 (みずうみ (mizuumi) — lake).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (湖)
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 3 (小学3年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (コ) when 湖 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (みずうみ) when 湖 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (12画): At 12 strokes, 湖 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 12 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
水 (meaning) + 古 (sound コ)
Derived from the meaning radical 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) and the phonetic component 古, giving the on-reading コ.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 湖
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 湖 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 湖 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 湖 ("lake") is written with 12 strokes (12画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical. At 12 strokes, 湖 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 12 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 湖?
For 湖 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is コ and the Kunyomi is みずうみ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (コ) when 湖 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (みずうみ) when 湖 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 湖 includes 湖 (みずうみ (mizuumi) — lake).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 湖 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 12 strokes of 湖 (lake), 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 湖 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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