How to Write 漸 (steadily, gradually advancing, finally, barely) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 14-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 漸 (“steadily, gradually advancing, finally, barely”), indexed under the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical. Practice 漸 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 漸く (ようやく (youyaku) — steadily), 漸 (やや (yaya) — steadily).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (漸)
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 N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ゼン) when 漸 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ようや.く, やや, ようよ.う, すす.む) when 漸 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (14画): At 14 strokes, 漸 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 14 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 14 strokes under radical 水.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 漸
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 漸 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 漸 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 漸 ("steadily, gradually advancing, finally, barely") is written with 14 strokes (14画) as a JLPT N1 (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 14 strokes, 漸 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 14 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 漸?
For 漸 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ゼン and the Kunyomi is ようや.く, やや, ようよ.う, すす.む. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ゼン) when 漸 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ようや.く, やや, ようよ.う, すす.む) when 漸 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 漸 includes 漸く (ようやく (youyaku) — steadily), 漸 (やや (yaya) — steadily).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 漸 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 14 strokes of 漸 (steadily, gradually advancing, finally, barely), 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 漸 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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