How to Write 緒 (thong, beginning, inception, end, cord) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 14-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 緒 (“thong, beginning, inception, end, cord”), indexed under the 糸 (いと / いとへん (silk/thread)) radical. Practice 緒 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 緒 (お (o) — thong), 緒 (いとぐち (itoguchi) — thong).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (緒)
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 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ショ, チョ) when 緒 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (お, いとぐち) when 緒 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (14画): At 14 strokes, 緒 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 緒
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 緒 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 緒 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 緒 ("thong, beginning, inception, end, cord") is written with 14 strokes (14画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8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, 緒 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 緒?
For 緒 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is ショ, チョ and the Kunyomi is お, いとぐち. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ショ, チョ) when 緒 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (お, いとぐち) when 緒 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 緒 includes 緒 (お (o) — thong), 緒 (いとぐち (itoguchi) — thong).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 緒 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 14 strokes of 緒 (thong, beginning, inception, end, cord), 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 緒 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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