How to Write 祭 (ritual, offer prayers, celebrate, deify, enshrine) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 11-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) character 祭 (“ritual, offer prayers, celebrate, deify, enshrine”), indexed under the 示 (しめす / しめすへん (altar/show)) radical. Practice 祭 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 祭る (まつる (matsuru) — ritual), 祭り (まつり (matsuri) — ritual).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (祭)
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 N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (サイ) when 祭 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (まつ.る, まつ.り, まつり) when 祭 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (11画): Written with 11 strokes, 祭 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 9 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 11 strokes under radical 示.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 祭
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 祭 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 祭 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 祭 ("ritual, offer prayers, celebrate, deify, enshrine") is written with 11 strokes (11画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3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 11 strokes, 祭 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 9 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 祭?
For 祭 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is サイ and the Kunyomi is まつ.る, まつ.り, まつり. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (サイ) when 祭 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (まつ.る, まつ.り, まつり) when 祭 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 祭 includes 祭る (まつる (matsuru) — ritual), 祭り (まつり (matsuri) — ritual).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 祭 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 11 strokes of 祭 (ritual, offer prayers, celebrate, deify, enshrine), 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 祭 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N2 Characters to Practice Next
View Full JLPT N2 Kanji List →Unlock All 2,000+ JLPT N5–N1 Kanji, AI Sensei & Unlimited Genkō Yōshi PDF Books
Get lifetime access to all 2,136 Jōyō Kanji (JLPT N5–N1), AI Kanji Sensei mnemonics, and unlimited Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheets for a one-time payment of $17.99 USD (10% OFF the $19.99 Lifetime Pro Pass with promo code KANJI10). Zero monthly subscriptions!