How to Write 草 (grass, weeds, herbs, pasture, write) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 9-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) character 草 (“grass, weeds, herbs, pasture, write”), indexed under the 艸 (くさかんむり (grass)) radical. Practice 草 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 草 (くさ (kusa) — grass), 草 (くさ (kusa) — grass).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (草)
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 1 (小学1年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ソウ) when 草 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (くさ, くさ-, -ぐさ) when 草 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (9画): Written with 9 strokes, 草 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 7 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 9 strokes under radical 艸.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 草
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 草 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 草 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 草 ("grass, weeds, herbs, pasture, write") is written with 9 strokes (9画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 1 (小学1年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 艸 (くさかんむり (grass)) radical. Written with 9 strokes, 草 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 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 草?
For 草 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is ソウ and the Kunyomi is くさ, くさ-, -ぐさ. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ソウ) when 草 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (くさ, くさ-, -ぐさ) when 草 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 草 includes 草 (くさ (kusa) — grass), 草 (くさ (kusa) — grass).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 草 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 9 strokes of 草 (grass, weeds, herbs, pasture, write), 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 草 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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