How to Write 病 (ill, sick) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 10-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) character 病 (“ill, sick”), indexed under the 疒 (やまいだれ (sickness)) radical. Practice 病 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 病む (やむ (yamu) — ill), 病み (やみ (yami) — ill).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (病)
Primary Radical (部首): 疒 — やまいだれ (sickness)
Radical Position: Hanging (Tare / 垂) (垂 (Tare))
Semantic Theme: Illness, medical conditions, symptoms, and diseases
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生) (JLPT N4). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ビョウ, ヘイ) when 病 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (や.む, -や.み, やまい) when 病 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (10画): Written with 10 strokes, 病 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 疒 (やまいだれ (sickness)) radical (Hanging (Tare / 垂) position). Establish the 疒 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 8 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 疒 (やまいだれ (sickness))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 10 strokes under radical 疒.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 病
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 病 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 病 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 病 ("ill, sick") is written with 10 strokes (10画) as a JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 疒 (やまいだれ (sickness)) radical. Written with 10 strokes, 病 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 疒 (やまいだれ (sickness)) radical (Hanging (Tare / 垂) position). Establish the 疒 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 病?
For 病 (JLPT N4), the Onyomi is ビョウ, ヘイ and the Kunyomi is や.む, -や.み, やまい. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ビョウ, ヘイ) when 病 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (や.む, -や.み, やまい) when 病 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 病 includes 病む (やむ (yamu) — ill), 病み (やみ (yami) — ill).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 病 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 10 strokes of 病 (ill, sick), start with the 疒 (やまいだれ (sickness)) in the Hanging (Tare / 垂) (垂 (Tare)) 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 病 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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