How to Write 薬 (medicine, chemical, enamel, gunpowder, benefit) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 16-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) character 薬 (“medicine, chemical, enamel, gunpowder, benefit”), indexed under the 艸 (くさかんむり (grass)) radical. Practice 薬 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 薬 (くすり (kusuri) — medicine).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (薬)
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 N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ヤク) when 薬 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (くすり) when 薬 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (16画): At 16 strokes, 薬 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 艸 (くさかんむり (grass)) radical (Top (Kanmuri / 冠) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 16 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 艸 (くさかんむり (grass))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 16 strokes under radical 艸.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 薬
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 薬 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 薬 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 薬 ("medicine, chemical, enamel, gunpowder, benefit") is written with 16 strokes (16画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 3 (小学3年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 艸 (くさかんむり (grass)) radical. At 16 strokes, 薬 is a high-density Kanji where compact internal spacing prevents visual crowding. Keep the 艸 (くさかんむり (grass)) radical (Top (Kanmuri / 冠) position) slim and space internal horizontal strokes evenly so all 16 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 薬?
For 薬 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is ヤク and the Kunyomi is くすり. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ヤク) when 薬 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (くすり) when 薬 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 薬 includes 薬 (くすり (kusuri) — medicine).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 薬 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 16 strokes of 薬 (medicine, chemical, enamel, gunpowder, benefit), 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 薬 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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