How to Write 臼 (mortar) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 6-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 臼 (“mortar”), indexed under the 臼 (うす (mortar)) radical. Practice 臼 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 臼 (うす (usu) — mortar), 臼く (うすづく (usuzuku) — mortar).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (臼)
Primary Radical (部首): 臼 — うす (mortar)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 臼
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (キュウ, グ) when 臼 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (うす, うすづ.く) when 臼 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (6画): Written with 6 strokes, 臼 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 臼 (うす (mortar)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 臼 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 4 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 臼 (うす (mortar))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 6 strokes under radical 臼.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 臼
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 臼 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 臼 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 臼 ("mortar") is written with 6 strokes (6画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 臼 (うす (mortar)) radical. Written with 6 strokes, 臼 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 臼 (うす (mortar)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 臼 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 4 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 臼?
For 臼 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is キュウ, グ and the Kunyomi is うす, うすづ.く. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (キュウ, グ) when 臼 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (うす, うすづ.く) when 臼 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 臼 includes 臼 (うす (usu) — mortar), 臼く (うすづく (usuzuku) — mortar).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 臼 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 6 strokes of 臼 (mortar), start with the 臼 (うす (mortar)) 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 臼 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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