How to Write 相 (inter-, mutual, together, each other, minister of state) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 9-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) character 相 (“inter-, mutual, together, each other, minister of state”), indexed under the 目 (め (eye)) radical. Practice 相 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 相 (あい (ai) — inter-).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (相)
Primary Radical (部首): 目 — め (eye)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Eyes, watching, sleeping, vision, and gaze
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ソウ, ショウ) when 相 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (あい-) when 相 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (9画): Written with 9 strokes, 相 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 目 (め (eye)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 目 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 目 (め (eye))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 9 strokes under radical 目.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 相
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 相 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 相 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 相 ("inter-, mutual, together, each other, minister of state") is written with 9 strokes (9画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 目 (め (eye)) radical. Written with 9 strokes, 相 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 目 (め (eye)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 目 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 相?
For 相 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is ソウ, ショウ and the Kunyomi is あい-. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ソウ, ショウ) when 相 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (あい-) when 相 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 相 includes 相 (あい (ai) — inter-).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 相 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 9 strokes of 相 (inter-, mutual, together, each other, minister of state), start with the 目 (め (eye)) in the Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen)) 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 相 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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