How to Write 禁 (prohibition, ban, forbid) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 13-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) character 禁 (“prohibition, ban, forbid”), indexed under the 示 (しめす / しめすへん (altar/show)) radical. Practice 禁 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 禁 (キン / きん (kin) — prohibition).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (禁)
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 5 (小学5年生) (JLPT N2). 禁 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (キン) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (13画): At 13 strokes, 禁 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 示 (しめす / しめすへん (altar/show)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 13 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 示 (しめす / しめすへん (altar/show))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 13 strokes under radical 示.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 禁
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 禁 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 禁 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 禁 ("prohibition, ban, forbid") is written with 13 strokes (13画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 示 (しめす / しめすへん (altar/show)) radical. At 13 strokes, 禁 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 示 (しめす / しめすへん (altar/show)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 13 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 禁?
For 禁 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is キン and the Kunyomi is —. 禁 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (キン) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 禁 includes 禁 (キン / きん (kin) — prohibition).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 禁 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 13 strokes of 禁 (prohibition, ban, forbid), 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 禁 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!