How to Write 筒 (cylinder, pipe, tube, gun barrel, sleeve) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 12-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 筒 (“cylinder, pipe, tube, gun barrel, sleeve”), indexed under the 竹 (たけ / たけかんむり (bamboo)) radical. Practice 筒 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 筒 (つつ (tsutsu) — cylinder).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (筒)
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 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (トウ) when 筒 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (つつ) when 筒 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (12画): At 12 strokes, 筒 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 竹 (たけ / たけかんむり (bamboo)) radical (Top (Kanmuri / 冠) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 12 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
竹 (meaning) + 同 (sound ドウ)
Derived from the meaning radical 竹 (たけ / たけかんむり (bamboo)) and the phonetic component 同, giving the on-reading ドウ.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 筒
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 筒 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 筒 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 筒 ("cylinder, pipe, tube, gun barrel, sleeve") is written with 12 strokes (12画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 竹 (たけ / たけかんむり (bamboo)) radical. At 12 strokes, 筒 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 竹 (たけ / たけかんむり (bamboo)) radical (Top (Kanmuri / 冠) 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 筒?
For 筒 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is トウ and the Kunyomi is つつ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (トウ) when 筒 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (つつ) when 筒 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 筒 includes 筒 (つつ (tsutsu) — cylinder).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 筒 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 12 strokes of 筒 (cylinder, pipe, tube, gun barrel, sleeve), 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 筒 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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