How to Write 若 (young, if, perhaps, possibly, low number) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 8-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) character 若 (“young, if, perhaps, possibly, low number”), indexed under the 艸 (くさかんむり (grass)) radical. Practice 若 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 若い (わかい (wakai) — young), 若 (わか (waka) — young).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (若)
Primary Radical (部首): 艸 — くさかんむり (grass)
Radical Position: Top (Kanmuri / 冠) (冠 (Kanmuri))
Semantic Theme: Herbs, grass, flowers, vegetation, and botanical life
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ジャク, ニャク, ニャ) when 若 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (わか.い, わか-, も.しくわ, も.し, も.しくは, ごと.し) when 若 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (8画): Written with 8 strokes, 若 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 艸 (くさかんむり (grass)) radical (Top (Kanmuri / 冠) position). Establish the 艸 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 6 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 艸 (くさかんむり (grass))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 8 strokes under radical 艸.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 若
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 若 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 若 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 若 ("young, if, perhaps, possibly, low number") is written with 8 strokes (8画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 艸 (くさかんむり (grass)) radical. Written with 8 strokes, 若 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 艸 (くさかんむり (grass)) radical (Top (Kanmuri / 冠) position). Establish the 艸 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 6 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 若?
For 若 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is ジャク, ニャク, ニャ and the Kunyomi is わか.い, わか-, も.しくわ, も.し, も.しくは, ごと.し. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ジャク, ニャク, ニャ) when 若 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (わか.い, わか-, も.しくわ, も.し, も.しくは, ごと.し) when 若 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 若 includes 若い (わかい (wakai) — young), 若 (わか (waka) — young).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 若 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 8 strokes of 若 (young, if, perhaps, possibly, low number), start with the 艸 (くさかんむり (grass)) in the Top (Kanmuri / 冠) (冠 (Kanmuri)) 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 若 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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