How to Write 白 (white) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 5-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) character 白 (“white”), indexed under the 白 (しろ (white)) radical. Practice 白 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 白い (しろい (shiroi) — white), 白黒 (しろくろ (shirokuro) — black and white).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (白)
Primary Radical (部首): 白 — しろ (white)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 白
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生) (JLPT N5). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ハク, ビャク) when 白 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (しろ, しろ.い) when 白 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (5画): With only 5 strokes, 白 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 白 (しろ (white)) structure (Standalone / Integrated position) cleanly around the center intersection and finish terminal strokes with crisp tome (stop) or harai (sweep) release.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 白 (しろ (white))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 5 strokes under radical 白.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 白
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 白 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 白 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 白 ("white") is written with 5 strokes (5画) as a JLPT N5 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 白 (しろ (white)) radical. With only 5 strokes, 白 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 白 (しろ (white)) structure (Standalone / Integrated position) cleanly around the center intersection and finish terminal strokes with crisp tome (stop) or harai (sweep) release.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 白?
For 白 (JLPT N5), the Onyomi is ハク, ビャク and the Kunyomi is しろ, しろ.い. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ハク, ビャク) when 白 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (しろ, しろ.い) when 白 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 白 includes 白い (しろい (shiroi) — white), 白黒 (しろくろ (shirokuro) — black and white).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 白 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 5 strokes of 白 (white), start with the 白 (しろ (white)) 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 白 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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