How to Write 禅 (Zen, silent meditation) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 13-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 禅 (“Zen, silent meditation”), indexed under the 示 (しめす / しめすへん (altar/show)) radical. Practice 禅 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 禅 (しずか (shizuka) — Zen), 禅る (ゆずる (yuzuru) — Zen).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (禅)
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 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ゼン, セン) when 禅 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (しずか, ゆず.る) when 禅 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (13画): At 13 strokes, 禅 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 禅
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 禅 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 禅 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 禅 ("Zen, silent meditation") is written with 13 strokes (13画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8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, 禅 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 禅?
For 禅 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ゼン, セン and the Kunyomi is しずか, ゆず.る. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ゼン, セン) when 禅 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (しずか, ゆず.る) when 禅 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 禅 includes 禅 (しずか (shizuka) — Zen), 禅る (ゆずる (yuzuru) — Zen).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 禅 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 13 strokes of 禅 (Zen, silent meditation), 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 禅 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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