How to Write 箱 (box, chest, case, bin, railway car) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 15-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) character 箱 (“box, chest, case, bin, railway car”), indexed under the 竹 (たけ / たけかんむり (bamboo)) radical. Practice 箱 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 箱 (はこ (hako) — box).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (箱)
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 N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ソウ) when 箱 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (はこ) when 箱 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (15画): At 15 strokes, 箱 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 15 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 竹 (たけ / たけかんむり (bamboo))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 15 strokes under radical 竹.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 箱
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 箱 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 箱 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 箱 ("box, chest, case, bin, railway car") is written with 15 strokes (15画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 竹 (たけ / たけかんむり (bamboo)) radical. At 15 strokes, 箱 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 15 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 箱?
For 箱 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is ソウ and the Kunyomi is はこ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ソウ) when 箱 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (はこ) when 箱 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 箱 includes 箱 (はこ (hako) — box).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 箱 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 15 strokes of 箱 (box, chest, case, bin, railway car), 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 箱 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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