How to Write 砲 (cannon, gun) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 10-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 砲 (“cannon, gun”), indexed under the 石 (いし (stone)) radical. Practice 砲 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 砲 (ホウ / ほう (hou) — cannon).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (砲)
Primary Radical (部首): 石 — いし (stone)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 石
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). 砲 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ホウ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (10画): Written with 10 strokes, 砲 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 石 (いし (stone)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 石 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 8 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
石 (meaning) + 包 (sound ホウ)
Derived from the meaning radical 石 (いし (stone)) and the phonetic component 包, giving the on-reading ホウ.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 砲
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 砲 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 砲 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 砲 ("cannon, gun") is written with 10 strokes (10画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 石 (いし (stone)) radical. Written with 10 strokes, 砲 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 石 (いし (stone)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 石 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 砲?
For 砲 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ホウ and the Kunyomi is —. 砲 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ホウ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 砲 includes 砲 (ホウ / ほう (hou) — cannon).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 砲 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 10 strokes of 砲 (cannon, gun), start with the 石 (いし (stone)) 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 砲 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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