How to Write 能 (ability, talent, skill, capacity) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 10-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) character 能 (“ability, talent, skill, capacity”), indexed under the 肉 (にく / にくづき (meat)) radical. Practice 能 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 能く (よく (yoku) — ability), 能う (あたう (atau) — ability).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (能)
Primary Radical (部首): 肉 — にく / にくづき (meat)
Radical Position: Left (Hen / 偏) (偏 (Hen))
Semantic Theme: Meat, muscle, organs, and anatomy of the body
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ノウ) when 能 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (よ.く, あた.う) when 能 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (10画): Written with 10 strokes, 能 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 肉 (にく / にくづき (meat)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 肉 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 8 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 肉 (にく / にくづき (meat))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 10 strokes under radical 肉.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 能
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 能 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 能 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 能 ("ability, talent, skill, capacity") is written with 10 strokes (10画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 5 (小学5年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 肉 (にく / にくづき (meat)) radical. Written with 10 strokes, 能 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 肉 (にく / にくづき (meat)) radical (Left (Hen / 偏) position). Establish the 肉 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 8 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 能?
For 能 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is ノウ and the Kunyomi is よ.く, あた.う. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ノウ) when 能 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (よ.く, あた.う) when 能 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 能 includes 能く (よく (yoku) — ability), 能う (あたう (atau) — ability).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 能 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 10 strokes of 能 (ability, talent, skill, capacity), start with the 肉 (にく / にくづき (meat)) 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 能 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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