How to Write 礎 (cornerstone, foundation stone) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 18-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 礎 (“cornerstone, foundation stone”), indexed under the 石 (いし (stone)) radical. Practice 礎 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 礎 (いしずえ (ishizue) — cornerstone).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (礎)
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). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ソ) when 礎 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (いしずえ) when 礎 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (18画): At 18 strokes, 礎 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 石 (いし (stone)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 18 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 石 (いし (stone))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 18 strokes under radical 石.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 礎
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 礎 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 礎 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 礎 ("cornerstone, foundation stone") is written with 18 strokes (18画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 石 (いし (stone)) radical. At 18 strokes, 礎 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 石 (いし (stone)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 18 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 礎?
For 礎 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ソ and the Kunyomi is いしずえ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ソ) when 礎 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (いしずえ) when 礎 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 礎 includes 礎 (いしずえ (ishizue) — cornerstone).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 礎 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 18 strokes of 礎 (cornerstone, foundation stone), 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 礎 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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