How to Write 藍 (indigo) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 18-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 藍 (“indigo”), indexed under the 艸 (くさかんむり (grass)) radical. Practice 藍 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 藍 (あい (ai) — indigo).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (藍)
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 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ラン) when 藍 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (あい) when 藍 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (18画): At 18 strokes, 藍 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 18 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 18 strokes under radical 艸.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 藍
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 藍 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 藍 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 藍 ("indigo") is written with 18 strokes (18画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) high-density multi-component Kanji (12+ strokes) indexed under the 艸 (くさかんむり (grass)) radical. At 18 strokes, 藍 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 18 strokes fit inside the Genkō Yōshi margins.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 藍?
For 藍 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ラン and the Kunyomi is あい. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ラン) when 藍 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (あい) when 藍 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 藍 includes 藍 (あい (ai) — indigo).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 藍 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 18 strokes of 藍 (indigo), 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 藍 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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