How to Write 蛇 (snake, serpent, hard drinker) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 11-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 蛇 (“snake, serpent, hard drinker”), indexed under the 虫 (むし (insect)) radical. Practice 蛇 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 蛇 (へび (hebi) — snake).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (蛇)
Primary Radical (部首): 虫 — むし (insect)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 虫
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N1). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ジャ, ダ, イ, ヤ) when 蛇 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (へび) when 蛇 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (11画): Written with 11 strokes, 蛇 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 虫 (むし (insect)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 虫 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 9 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 虫 (むし (insect))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 11 strokes under radical 虫.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 蛇
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 蛇 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 蛇 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 蛇 ("snake, serpent, hard drinker") is written with 11 strokes (11画) as a JLPT N1 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 虫 (むし (insect)) radical. Written with 11 strokes, 蛇 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 虫 (むし (insect)) radical (Standalone / Integrated position). Establish the 虫 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 9 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 蛇?
For 蛇 (JLPT N1), the Onyomi is ジャ, ダ, イ, ヤ and the Kunyomi is へび. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (ジャ, ダ, イ, ヤ) when 蛇 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (へび) when 蛇 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 蛇 includes 蛇 (へび (hebi) — snake).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 蛇 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 11 strokes of 蛇 (snake, serpent, hard drinker), start with the 虫 (むし (insect)) in the Standalone / Integrated (部首) 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 蛇 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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