How to Write 総 (general, whole, all, full, total) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 14-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) character 総 (“general, whole, all, full, total”), indexed under the 糸 (いと / いとへん (silk/thread)) radical. Practice 総 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 総べて (すべて (subete) — general), 総て (すべて (subete) — general).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (総)
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 5 (小学5年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ソウ) when 総 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (す.べて, すべ.て, ふさ) when 総 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (14画): At 14 strokes, 総 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 14 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 14 strokes under radical 糸.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 総
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 総 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 総 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 総 ("general, whole, all, full, total") is written with 14 strokes (14画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 糸 (いと / いとへん (silk/thread)) radical. At 14 strokes, 総 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 14 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 総?
For 総 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is ソウ and the Kunyomi is す.べて, すべ.て, ふさ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ソウ) when 総 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (す.べて, すべ.て, ふさ) when 総 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 総 includes 総べて (すべて (subete) — general), 総て (すべて (subete) — general).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 総 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 14 strokes of 総 (general, whole, all, full, total), 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 総 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N2 Characters to Practice Next
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