How to Write 湾 (gulf, bay, inlet) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 12-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 湾 (“gulf, bay, inlet”), indexed under the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical. Practice 湾 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 湾 (いりえ (irie) — gulf).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (湾)
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 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ワン) when 湾 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (いりえ) when 湾 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (12画): At 12 strokes, 湾 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 湾
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 湾 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 湾 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 湾 ("gulf, bay, inlet") is written with 12 strokes (12画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical. At 12 strokes, 湾 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 湾?
For 湾 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is ワン and the Kunyomi is いりえ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ワン) when 湾 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (いりえ) when 湾 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 湾 includes 湾 (いりえ (irie) — gulf).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 湾 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 12 strokes of 湾 (gulf, bay, inlet), 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 湾 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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