How to Write 絵 (picture, drawing, painting, sketch) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 12-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) character 絵 (“picture, drawing, painting, sketch”), indexed under the 糸 (いと / いとへん (silk/thread)) radical. Practice 絵 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 絵 (カイ / かい (kai) — picture).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (絵)
Primary Radical (部首): 糸 — いと / いとへん (silk/thread)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Silk, threads, textiles, weaving, and connecting ties
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生) (JLPT N3). 絵 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (カイ, エ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (12画): At 12 strokes, 絵 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 糸 (いと / いとへん (silk/thread)) 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: 糸 (いと / いとへん (silk/thread))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 12 strokes under radical 糸.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 絵
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 絵 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 絵 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 絵 ("picture, drawing, painting, sketch") is written with 12 strokes (12画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 2 (小学2年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 糸 (いと / いとへん (silk/thread)) radical. At 12 strokes, 絵 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 糸 (いと / いとへん (silk/thread)) 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 絵?
For 絵 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is カイ, エ and the Kunyomi is —. 絵 is primarily read using its Sino-Japanese Onyomi (カイ, エ) inside formal Jukugo compound words rather than as a standalone Kunyomi stem. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 絵 includes 絵 (カイ / かい (kai) — picture).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 絵 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 12 strokes of 絵 (picture, drawing, painting, sketch), start with the 糸 (いと / いとへん (silk/thread)) 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 絵 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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