How to Write 社 (company, firm, office, association, shrine) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 7-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) character 社 (“company, firm, office, association, shrine”), indexed under the 示 (しめす / しめすへん (altar/show)) radical. Practice 社 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 社 (やしろ (yashiro) — company).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (社)
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 2 (小学2年生) (JLPT N4). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (シャ) when 社 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (やしろ) when 社 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (7画): Written with 7 strokes, 社 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 示 (しめす / しめすへん (altar/show)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 示 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 5 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 示 (しめす / しめすへん (altar/show))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 7 strokes under radical 示.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 社
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 社 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 社 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 社 ("company, firm, office, association, shrine") is written with 7 strokes (7画) as a JLPT N4 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 示 (しめす / しめすへん (altar/show)) radical. Written with 7 strokes, 社 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 示 (しめす / しめすへん (altar/show)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 示 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 5 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 社?
For 社 (JLPT N4), the Onyomi is シャ and the Kunyomi is やしろ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (シャ) when 社 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (やしろ) when 社 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 社 includes 社 (やしろ (yashiro) — company).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 社 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 7 strokes of 社 (company, firm, office, association, shrine), 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 社 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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