How to Write 第 (No., residence) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 11-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) character 第 (“No., residence”), indexed under the 竹 (たけ / たけかんむり (bamboo)) radical. Practice 第 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 第 (ダイ / だい (dai) — No.).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (第)
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 3 (小学3年生) (JLPT N1). 第 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ダイ, テイ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (11画): Written with 11 strokes, 第 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 9 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 11 strokes under radical 竹.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 第
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 第 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 第 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 第 ("No., residence") is written with 11 strokes (11画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3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 11 strokes, 第 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 9 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 第?
For 第 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ダイ, テイ and the Kunyomi is —. 第 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ダイ, テイ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 第 includes 第 (ダイ / だい (dai) — No.).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 第 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 11 strokes of 第 (No., residence), 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 第 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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