How to Write 球 (ball, sphere) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 11-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) character 球 (“ball, sphere”), indexed under the 玉 (たま / たまへん (jade/jewel)) radical. Practice 球 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 球 (たま (tama) — ball).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (球)
Primary Radical (部首): 玉 — たま / たまへん (jade/jewel)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 玉
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (キュウ) when 球 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (たま) when 球 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (11画): Written with 11 strokes, 球 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 玉 (たま / たまへん (jade/jewel)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 玉 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 9 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 玉 (たま / たまへん (jade/jewel))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 11 strokes under radical 玉.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 球
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 球 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 球 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 球 ("ball, sphere") is written with 11 strokes (11画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 玉 (たま / たまへん (jade/jewel)) radical. Written with 11 strokes, 球 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 玉 (たま / たまへん (jade/jewel)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 玉 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 9 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 球?
For 球 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is キュウ and the Kunyomi is たま. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (キュウ) when 球 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (たま) when 球 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 球 includes 球 (たま (tama) — ball).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 球 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 11 strokes of 球 (ball, sphere), start with the 玉 (たま / たまへん (jade/jewel)) in the Standalone / Integrated (部首) 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 球 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N3 Characters to Practice Next
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