How to Write 炭 (charcoal, coal) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 9-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) character 炭 (“charcoal, coal”), indexed under the 火 (ひ / れっか (fire)) radical. Practice 炭 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 炭 (すみ (sumi) — charcoal).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (炭)
Primary Radical (部首): 火 — ひ / れっか (fire)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Fire, heat, burning, cooking, light, and passion
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (タン) when 炭 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (すみ) when 炭 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (9画): Written with 9 strokes, 炭 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 火 (ひ / れっか (fire)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 火 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
火 (meaning) + 火 (sound カ)
Derived from the meaning radical 火 (ひ / れっか (fire)) and the phonetic component 火, giving the on-reading カ.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 炭
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 炭 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 炭 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 炭 ("charcoal, coal") is written with 9 strokes (9画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 火 (ひ / れっか (fire)) radical. Written with 9 strokes, 炭 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 火 (ひ / れっか (fire)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 火 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 炭?
For 炭 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is タン and the Kunyomi is すみ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (タン) when 炭 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (すみ) when 炭 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 炭 includes 炭 (すみ (sumi) — charcoal).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 炭 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 9 strokes of 炭 (charcoal, coal), start with the 火 (ひ / れっか (fire)) 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 炭 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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