How to Write 税 (tax, duty) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 12-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) character 税 (“tax, duty”), indexed under the 禾 (のぎ / のぎへん (grain)) radical. Practice 税 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 税 (ゼイ / ぜい (zei) — tax).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (税)
Primary Radical (部首): 禾 — のぎ / のぎへん (grain)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Grain crops, autumn harvest, agriculture, and grain measure
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生) (JLPT N2). 税 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ゼイ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (12画): At 12 strokes, 税 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 禾 (のぎ / のぎへん (grain)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 12 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 禾 (のぎ / のぎへん (grain))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 12 strokes under radical 禾.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 税
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 税 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 税 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 税 ("tax, duty") is written with 12 strokes (12画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 禾 (のぎ / のぎへん (grain)) radical. At 12 strokes, 税 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 禾 (のぎ / のぎへん (grain)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 12 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 税?
For 税 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is ゼイ and the Kunyomi is —. 税 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ゼイ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 税 includes 税 (ゼイ / ぜい (zei) — tax).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 税 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 12 strokes of 税 (tax, duty), start with the 禾 (のぎ / のぎへん (grain)) in the Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen)) 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 税 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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