How to Write 留 (detain, fasten, halt, stop) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 10-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) character 留 (“detain, fasten, halt, stop”), indexed under the 田 (た (rice field)) radical. Practice 留 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 留める (とめる (tomeru) — detain), 留まる (とまる (tomaru) — detain).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (留)
Primary Radical (部首): 田 — た (rice field)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 田
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (リュウ, ル) when 留 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (と.める, と.まる, とど.める, とど.まる, るうぶる) when 留 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (10画): Written with 10 strokes, 留 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 田 (た (rice field)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 田 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 8 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
田 (meaning) + 田 (sound デン)
Derived from the meaning radical 田 (た (rice field)) and the phonetic component 田, giving the on-reading デン.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 留
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 留 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 留 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 留 ("detain, fasten, halt, stop") is written with 10 strokes (10画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 田 (た (rice field)) radical. Written with 10 strokes, 留 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 田 (た (rice field)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 田 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 8 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 留?
For 留 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is リュウ, ル and the Kunyomi is と.める, と.まる, とど.める, とど.まる, るうぶる. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (リュウ, ル) when 留 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (と.める, と.まる, とど.める, とど.まる, るうぶる) when 留 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 留 includes 留める (とめる (tomeru) — detain), 留まる (とまる (tomaru) — detain).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 留 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 10 strokes of 留 (detain, fasten, halt, stop), start with the 田 (た (rice field)) 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 留 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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