How to Write 照 (illuminate, shine, compare, bashful) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 13-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) character 照 (“illuminate, shine, compare, bashful”), indexed under the 火 (ひ / れっか (fire)) radical. Practice 照 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 照る (てる (teru) — illuminate), 照らす (てらす (terasu) — illuminate).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (照)
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 4 (小学4年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ショウ) when 照 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (て.る, て.らす, て.れる) when 照 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (13画): At 13 strokes, 照 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 火 (ひ / れっか (fire)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 13 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
火 (meaning) + 召 (sound ショウ)
Derived from the meaning radical 火 (ひ / れっか (fire)) and the phonetic component 召, giving the on-reading ショウ.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 照
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 照 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 照 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 照 ("illuminate, shine, compare, bashful") is written with 13 strokes (13画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 火 (ひ / れっか (fire)) radical. At 13 strokes, 照 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 火 (ひ / れっか (fire)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 13 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 照?
For 照 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is ショウ and the Kunyomi is て.る, て.らす, て.れる. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ショウ) when 照 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (て.る, て.らす, て.れる) when 照 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 照 includes 照る (てる (teru) — illuminate), 照らす (てらす (terasu) — illuminate).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 照 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 13 strokes of 照 (illuminate, shine, compare, bashful), 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 照 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N2 Characters to Practice Next
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