How to Write 礼 (salute, bow, ceremony, thanks, remuneration) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 5-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) character 礼 (“salute, bow, ceremony, thanks, remuneration”), indexed under the 示 (しめす / しめすへん (altar/show)) radical. Practice 礼 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 礼 (レイ / れい (rei) — salute).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (礼)
Primary Radical (部首): 示 — しめす / しめすへん (altar/show)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 示
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生) (JLPT N3). 礼 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (レイ, ライ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (5画): With only 5 strokes, 礼 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 示 (しめす / しめすへん (altar/show)) 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: 示 (しめす / しめすへん (altar/show))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 5 strokes under radical 示.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 礼
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 礼 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 礼 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 礼 ("salute, bow, ceremony, thanks, remuneration") is written with 5 strokes (5画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 示 (しめす / しめすへん (altar/show)) radical. With only 5 strokes, 礼 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 示 (しめす / しめすへん (altar/show)) 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 礼?
For 礼 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is レイ, ライ and the Kunyomi is —. 礼 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (レイ, ライ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 礼 includes 礼 (レイ / れい (rei) — salute).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 礼 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 5 strokes of 礼 (salute, bow, ceremony, thanks, remuneration), start with the 示 (しめす / しめすへん (altar/show)) 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 礼 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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