How to Write 荷 (baggage, shoulder-pole load, bear (a burden), shoulder (a gun), load) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 10-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) character 荷 (“baggage, shoulder-pole load, bear (a burden), shoulder (a gun), load”), indexed under the 艸 (くさかんむり (grass)) radical. Practice 荷 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 荷 (に (ni) — baggage).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (荷)
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 3 (小学3年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (カ) when 荷 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (に) when 荷 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (10画): Written with 10 strokes, 荷 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 8 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
艸 (meaning) + 可 (sound カ)
Derived from the meaning radical 艸 (くさかんむり (grass)) and the phonetic component 可, giving the on-reading カ.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 荷
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 荷 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 荷 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 荷 ("baggage, shoulder-pole load, bear (a burden), shoulder (a gun), load") is written with 10 strokes (10画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 艸 (くさかんむり (grass)) radical. Written with 10 strokes, 荷 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 8 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 荷?
For 荷 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is カ and the Kunyomi is に. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (カ) when 荷 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (に) when 荷 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 荷 includes 荷 (に (ni) — baggage).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 荷 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 10 strokes of 荷 (baggage, shoulder-pole load, bear (a burden), shoulder (a gun), load), 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 荷 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N2 Characters to Practice Next
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