How to Write 湯 (hot water, bath, hot spring) — 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 湯 (“hot water, bath, hot spring”), indexed under the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical. Practice 湯 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 湯 (ゆ (yu) — hot water).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (湯)
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 (トウ) when 湯 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ゆ) when 湯 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (12画): At 12 strokes, 湯 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)
Radical: 水 (みず / さんずい (water))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 12 strokes under radical 水.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 湯
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 湯 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 湯 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 湯 ("hot water, bath, hot spring") 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, 湯 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 湯?
For 湯 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is トウ and the Kunyomi is ゆ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (トウ) when 湯 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ゆ) when 湯 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 湯 includes 湯 (ゆ (yu) — hot water).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 湯 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 12 strokes of 湯 (hot water, bath, hot spring), 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 湯 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N2 Characters to Practice Next
View Full JLPT N2 Kanji List →Unlock All 2,000+ JLPT N5–N1 Kanji, AI Sensei & Unlimited Genkō Yōshi PDF Books
Get lifetime access to all 2,136 Jōyō Kanji (JLPT N5–N1), AI Kanji Sensei mnemonics, and unlimited Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheets for a one-time payment of $17.99 USD (10% OFF the $19.99 Lifetime Pro Pass with promo code KANJI10). Zero monthly subscriptions!