How to Write 肇 (beginning) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 14-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 9 (小学9年生)) character 肇 (“beginning”), indexed under the 聿 (ふでづくり (brush)) radical. Practice 肇 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 肇める (はじめる (hajimeru) — beginning), 肇 (はじめ (hajime) — beginning).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (肇)
Primary Radical (部首): 聿 — ふでづくり (brush)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 聿
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 9 (小学9年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (チョウ, ジョウ, トウ) when 肇 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (はじ.める, はじめ) when 肇 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (14画): At 14 strokes, 肇 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 聿 (ふでづくり (brush)) radical (Standalone / Integrated 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: 聿 (ふでづくり (brush))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 14 strokes under radical 聿.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 肇
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 肇 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 肇 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 肇 ("beginning") is written with 14 strokes (14画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 9 (小学9年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 聿 (ふでづくり (brush)) radical. At 14 strokes, 肇 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 聿 (ふでづくり (brush)) radical (Standalone / Integrated 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 肇?
For 肇 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is チョウ, ジョウ, トウ and the Kunyomi is はじ.める, はじめ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (チョウ, ジョウ, トウ) when 肇 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (はじ.める, はじめ) when 肇 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 肇 includes 肇める (はじめる (hajimeru) — beginning), 肇 (はじめ (hajime) — beginning).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 肇 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 14 strokes of 肇 (beginning), start with the 聿 (ふでづくり (brush)) in the Standalone / Integrated (部首) 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 肇 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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