How to Write 笑 (laugh) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 10-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) character 笑 (“laugh”), indexed under the 竹 (たけ / たけかんむり (bamboo)) radical. Practice 笑 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 笑う (わらう (warau) — laugh), 笑む (えむ (emu) — laugh).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (笑)
Primary Radical (部首): 竹 — たけ / たけかんむり (bamboo)
Radical Position: Top (Kanmuri / 冠) (冠 (Kanmuri))
Semantic Theme: Bamboo, flutes, scrolls, baskets, and writing brushes
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ショウ) when 笑 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (わら.う, え.む) when 笑 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (10画): Written with 10 strokes, 笑 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 竹 (たけ / たけかんむり (bamboo)) radical (Top (Kanmuri / 冠) position). Establish the 竹 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 8 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 竹 (たけ / たけかんむり (bamboo))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 10 strokes under radical 竹.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 笑
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 笑 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 笑 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 笑 ("laugh") is written with 10 strokes (10画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 4 (小学4年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 竹 (たけ / たけかんむり (bamboo)) radical. Written with 10 strokes, 笑 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 竹 (たけ / たけかんむり (bamboo)) radical (Top (Kanmuri / 冠) position). Establish the 竹 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 8 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 笑?
For 笑 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is ショウ and the Kunyomi is わら.う, え.む. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ショウ) when 笑 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (わら.う, え.む) when 笑 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 笑 includes 笑う (わらう (warau) — laugh), 笑む (えむ (emu) — laugh).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 笑 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 10 strokes of 笑 (laugh), start with the 竹 (たけ / たけかんむり (bamboo)) in the Top (Kanmuri / 冠) (冠 (Kanmuri)) 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 笑 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N3 Characters to Practice Next
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