How to Write 盗 (steal, rob, pilfer) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 11-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 盗 (“steal, rob, pilfer”), indexed under the 皿 (さら (dish)) radical. Practice 盗 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 盗む (ぬすむ (nusumu) — steal), 盗み (ぬすみ (nusumi) — steal).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (盗)
Primary Radical (部首): 皿 — さら (dish)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 皿
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (トウ) when 盗 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ぬす.む, ぬす.み) when 盗 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (11画): Written with 11 strokes, 盗 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 皿 (さら (dish)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 皿 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: 皿 (さら (dish))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 11 strokes under radical 皿.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 盗
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 盗 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 盗 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 盗 ("steal, rob, pilfer") is written with 11 strokes (11画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 皿 (さら (dish)) radical. Written with 11 strokes, 盗 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 皿 (さら (dish)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 皿 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 盗?
For 盗 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is トウ and the Kunyomi is ぬす.む, ぬす.み. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (トウ) when 盗 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (ぬす.む, ぬす.み) when 盗 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 盗 includes 盗む (ぬすむ (nusumu) — steal), 盗み (ぬすみ (nusumi) — steal).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 盗 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 11 strokes of 盗 (steal, rob, pilfer), start with the 皿 (さら (dish)) 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 盗 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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