How to Write 潮 (tide, salt water, opportunity) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 15-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) character 潮 (“tide, salt water, opportunity”), indexed under the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical. Practice 潮 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 潮 (しお (shio) — tide), 潮 (うしお (ushio) — tide).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (潮)
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 N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (チョウ) when 潮 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (しお, うしお) when 潮 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (15画): At 15 strokes, 潮 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 15 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 15 strokes under radical 水.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 潮
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 潮 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 潮 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 潮 ("tide, salt water, opportunity") is written with 15 strokes (15画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 水 (みず / さんずい (water)) radical. At 15 strokes, 潮 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 15 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 潮?
For 潮 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is チョウ and the Kunyomi is しお, うしお. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (チョウ) when 潮 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (しお, うしお) when 潮 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 潮 includes 潮 (しお (shio) — tide), 潮 (うしお (ushio) — tide).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 潮 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 15 strokes of 潮 (tide, salt water, opportunity), 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 潮 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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